2 injured trying to ride out wildfire in a backyard hot tub north of Los Angeles

2 injured riding out fire in backyard hot tub

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s official says two people tried to ride out the firestorm in Big Tujunga Canyon in a backyard hot tub and were critically burned.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said Sunday that the pair “completely underestimated the fire” and the hot tub provided “no protection whatsoever.”

The two individuals made their way to firefighters Saturday and were airlifted out by a sheriff’s rescue helicopter.

Whitmore says the two people received adequate notification to evacuate from deputies but decided to stay.

Big Tujunga Canyon is on the southwestern edge of the fire burning in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

Another person narrowly escaped by driving through flames in a truck and was not injured.