Route Fire Breaks Out In Castaic, Smoke Visible Throughout SCV

A brush fire in Castaic has broken out Wednesday afternoon and is spreading at a rapid rate. Road Closure Update (1:56 a.m.)

All lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway are now open, according to the California Highway Patrol. The southbound 5 Freeway remains closed between Vista Del Lago Road and Parker Road, according to a SigAlert.

For evacuation information, including a map of evacuation areas, visit the Los Angeles County Emergency website.

Evacuation Update (1:16 a.m.)

Evacuation information has been updated by the  Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Evacuations lifted:

• SOUTH of Northlake Hills Elementary School(Includes Northlake, Stone Gate, and communities along Castaic Rd.)

Evacuations still in place:

• Old Ridge Route Road from Templin Highway to Northlake Hills Elementary school(Includes Paradise Ranch Mobile Estates).

The 5 Freeway remains closed on the southbound side at Vista Del Lago, according to the California Highway Patrol.

“Deputy personnel are working closely with Los Angeles County Fire Department and CHP – Newhall to assist with looter suppression and fire watch,” SCV Sheriff’s Station officials said.

Escorts Through Burn Area (12:55 a.m)

California Highway Patrol is escorting northbound traffic on I-5. Southbound lanes remain closed.

Remaining Evacuations (10:09 p.m.)

The Route Fire is 4,625 acres and 0 percent contained, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

Evacuation orders remain in place for Paradise Ranch Mobile Home Park and Old Ridge Route Road from Templin Highway to North Lake Hills Elementary school, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Some Evacuations Lifted (8:50 p.m.)

All Route Fire evacuations south of Northlake Elementary, east of the 5 Freeway and West of Castaic Lake have lifted, according to Fire officials.

#RouteFire still burning at 4,620 acres.

Evacuations lifted south of Northlake Hills Elementary School (Northlake, Stone Gate, Castaic Road).

EVACUATIONS STILL IN PLACE: N. OF NORTHLAKE HILLS ELEM. SCHOOLS. OF TEMPLIN HIGHWAYPARADISE VALLEYE. OF 5 FWYW. OF CASTAIC LAGOON

— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) September 1, 2022

Latest Route Fire Updates (7:55 p.m.)

The Route fire is now at 4,600 acres. About 200 homes remain under mandatory evacuations, but are not in direct threat of the fire, according to Fire officials.

Eight firefighters have suffered from heat-related injuries, with six sent to the hospital.

Three helicopters are expected to stay in the air helping in the fire fight alongside with ground units.

Chp officials are also working to reopen some northbound 5 Freeway lanes.

Evacuation Centers (7:20 p.m.)

Residents south of Lake Hughes can go to West Ranch High School, 26255 Valencia Boulevard, and residents north of Templin can go to Frazier Mountain High School 700 Falcon In Lebec.

Acreage Update (7:05 p.m.)

The Route Fire is now at 3,000 acres, according to fire officials.

New Evacuations (6:45 p.m.)

All homes north of Lake Hughes east of the 5 Freeway and west of Castaic Lake is under mandatory evacuations.

Additional Road Closures (4 p.m.)

The Old Road north of Parker Road has been closed to all non-residents, according to CHP officials.

Evacuations Issued (3:45 p.m.)

Evacuation orders have been issued for the Paradise Ranch Mobile Home Park and nearby structures south of Templin on Upper Old Ridge Route Road, said Maria Grycan, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The fire is now 250 acres in size.

Still No Evacuations (2:15 p.m.)

The Route Fire is 165 acres as of 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. Two firefighters have been transported to an area hospital for minor injuries, according to SCV Sheriff’s officials.

#RouteFire burning at approximately 165 acres, with no structures threatened. Freeway remains closed as @LACoFireAirOps continues to battle.

PLEASE AVOID THE AREA

Two fire fighters have been transported to an area hospital for minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/O5qUaMZtOk

— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) August 31, 2022

Third Alarm (1:22 p.m.)

The Route Fire has been upgraded to a third alarm incident and is 130 acres in size as of 1:22 p.m. Wednesday.

All lanes of the 5 Freeway have been stopped in both directions due to fire jumping into the center canyon between the north and south lanes of the 5 Freeway. Several smaller fires have been reported.

No evacuations have been reported.

Freeway Stopped (1:11 p.m.)

All lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway have been closed due to the Route Fire, according to Officer Josh Greengard, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol Newhall Area Office.

Traffic is being diverted off at Parker Road.

“We hope to have the freeway open shortly,” Greengard said.

Second Alarm (12:30 p.m.)

The Route Fire is now 60 acres in size and has been upgraded to a second alarm incident.

Size Up

The Route Fire is now 20 acres in size, according to Los Angeles County Fire officials.

Original Story

The brush fire, dubbed the Route Fire, was first reported around 12 p.m. on the northbound 5 Freeway north of Lake Hughes Road in Castaic, said Maria Grycan, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.As of 12:10 p.m. the Route Fire is at 7 acres with no structures threatened.

Smoke is visible throughout Santa Clarita.

The fire may have started due to a construction crew generator, according to reports from the California Highway Patrol.

The No. 1 and 2 lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway near the Route Fire, according to CHP logs.

Ed. Note: This is a breaking news story, more information will be added as it becomes available.     

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