What to Know
- The Route Fire started Wednesday afternoon next to the 5 Freeway in Castaic.
- Flames spread uphill, forcing a full closure of the 5 Freeway in northern Los Angeles County.
- Firefighters battled the fire in triple-digit heat during one of the warmest stretches of the year in Southern California.
Get the latest information about the Route Fire in our updated story here.
Mandatory evacuations on as many as 200 homes were ordered as a brush fire burned near the 5 Freeway north of Los Angeles on a day of extreme late-summer heat in Southern California.
The Route Fire burned at least 4,625 acres near the freeway in Castaic, forcing a full closure of the main north-south route between Southern and Northern California through the state's Central Valley at about 1:30 p.m. The fire was reported near Lake Hughes Road.
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The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory that will be in effect until Thursday afternoon due to the smoke plumes.
LA County Fire Department Deputy Chief Tom Ewald confirmed that there were eight firefighters who suffered heat-related injuries, six were transported.
There are at least 255 firefighters from the LA County Fire Department that are battling this fire.
Ewald said that the winds have been playing a big factor into the spread of the fire as well as the high temperatures.
He assured that fire crews will continue working into the evening sending aircrafts with fire retardant over areas.
There is no information regarding any structures that have been directly affected by the fire.
Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.
"We do not expect any containment at this point," LA County Fire Department's Craig Little said.
Evacuations were ordered for Paradise Mobile Estates and all homes or businesses south of Templin Highway along Upper Ridge Route Road. All residents were ordered to begin evacuating to the north, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff said.
Evacuations ordered in these areas:
- Paradise Ranch Mobile Estates
- All homes and businesses south of Templin Highway along Upper Ridge Route Road
- Structures north of Lake Hughes Road, east of the Golden Station (5) Freeway
- West of Castaic Lagoon
- North of Northlake Elementary School
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger representing the Fifth District tweeted that Northlake Elementary School would be evacuating all students and staff on campus due to the fire.
Evacuations south of Northlake Hills Elementary School have been lifted.
The American Red Cross is supporting evacuation shelters at West Ranch High School in Santa Clarita and Frazier Mountain High School in Lebec.
Anyone who is evacuating with small animals may take them to the Castaic Animal Shelter while evacuation orders are still in effect.
Northbound traffic was backed up through the area in northern Los Angeles County.
About 15 retardant- and water-dropping aircrafts were at the scene throughout the day.
Fire officials report that the terrain has been favorable for bulldozers to be able to drive over.
The fire is burning at the start of what's expected to be on of the warmest stretches of the year in Southern California. Temperatures in the 90s and 100s are in the forecast through Labor Day weekend.
The hottest temperatures are expected Sunday and Monday. Widespread triple-digit heat will blanket valleys and inland areas.
Midday temperatures in Castaic were around 100 degree. Winds were at 13 to 17 mph.
Fuel moisture levels are well below historic averages in parts of Southern California, meaning vegetation is drying out more quickly this year. Dry vegetation is one significant factor in the spread of wildfires.
The state is coming of one of its driest late winters on record, leaving hillsides covered in dry brush.
California continues to face longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change, according to CAL FIRE.
