CASTAIC, Calif. (KNX) — All lanes of the 5 Freeway remained closed Wednesday as fire crews battled a fast-growing brush fire near Castaic — dubbed the Route Fire — that prompted mandatory evacuations for some residents. The fire grew to an estimated 600 acres by late Wednesday, the county fire department said.
Shortly after 1 p.m., the northbound freeway was closed at Parker Road, just south of the fire scene, according to the California Highway Patrol. A short time later, flames jumped the northbound freeway lanes and began creeping toward the southbound lanes, prompting a closure of traffic in that direction as well.
California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert at 1:35 p.m., noting that all lanes on the 5 Freeway at Parker Road were blocked until further notice. Because of the #RouteFire, officials ordered mandatory evacuations for all residents of the Paradise Mobile Home Park and all structures south of Templin Highway along Upper Ridge Route Road. Sheriff's officials say residents should evacuate north.
The Route Fire ignited near Lake Hughes Road around 12:20 p.m., according to the Angeles National Forest. The fire was 0% contained by Wednesday evening.
The wildfire sparked as the Southland region began sweating under an anticipated record-breaking heatwave that started Wednesday, and forecasters expected it to last through early next week.
Crews in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched to the scene in hopes of halting the progress of the fire that more than doubled in size throughout the day.
Seven county firefighters suffered heat-related injuries battling the blaze amid the start of a heat wave, the department said. Of the seven, five went to the nearest hospital for treatment.
"They are turning people around on the 5. The black smoke is so thick it looks like night," one resident told KNX News on Twitter.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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