Seeing Smoke in the Valley? Here's Why

A fast-moving brush fire swept through dry vegetation on the east side of the Golden State (5) Freeway in Santa Clarita today, scorching about 85 acres, threatening some homes and forcing about 300 people to evacuate.

The fire broke out shortly after 1:30 p.m. along the northbound 5 Freeway near Calgrove Boulevard.

The blaze quickly went to a third alarm, with more than 200 firefighters attacking the blaze, assisted by four water-dropping helicopters and at least one fixed-wing aircraft crew dropping Phos-Chek fire-retardant.

Los Angeles city fire crews responded to assist the county with structure protection. Although county fire crews did not immediately request any evacuations, residents of a mobile home park in the area were being advised to prepare to move.

The northbound 5 freeway was shut down near Gavin Canyon, with traffic diverted to the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, but two lanes of traffic were later reopened. The California Highway Patrol briefly shut down all southbound lanes, but those were also reopened.

As the flames advanced, about 100 people were evacuated from the Crescent Valley Mobile Estates park on The Old Road in Newhall, another 200 were evacuated from homes on Wildwood Canyon Road, and eight homes were cleared on Oakbridge Lane, according to the Sheriff’s Department. An evacuation center was opened at West Ranch High School, 26255 Valencia Blvd. in Santa Clarita.

California Institute of the Arts closed its campus in Valencia for the rest of the afternoon due to the fire.

Full updates here from our Northridge-Chatsworth Patch.

City News Service

Photo: Patch Archive