Couple displaced from home due to Fairmount fire [Video]

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — While Montezuma Road has reopened and crews continue mopping up after the Fairmount fire, some families living just above the hillside remain unable to stay in their homes.

Charlie Ertl, a resident of Lila Drive since 1980, said this is the first time he’s needed air purifiers in his home.

“Servpro, who works with our insurance company, brought this in; they brought in three of them,” Ertl said. “It takes the air in from the top, and you can see how it’s filtering out particles—it was completely white when they started it last night.”

In nearly 40 years of living above this canyon, Ertl said this is the closest flames have come to his home. The Fairmount Fire scorched most of their backyard and outdoor furniture. While their house was saved, the lingering smoke has made it unsafe for Ertl and his wife to return.

“The smoke is …