Route 5 Fire Forces 'Close-Call' Rescues; Chars 5,200 Acres

CASTAIC, CA — Firefighters battled walls of flames through the night to take advantage of cooler temperatures to achieve 12 percent containment of the 5,208-acre Route 5 brush fire Thursday.

With record-breaking temperatures forecast to reach 108 degrees Thursday, crews sought to halt the forward progress of the blaze, which forced the evacuation of nearly 200 homes and injured eight firefighters. Six were hospitalized for heat-related injuries and in good condition as of Wednesday night. Two people suffered burn injuries in a frantic evacuation. Officials reported several close-calls in the effort to spirit residents away from the fast-moving fire.

The Route Fire began about noon Wednesday alongside the Golden State (5) Freeway in Castaic near Lake Hughes Road and quickly chewed through thousands of acres of bone0dry brush, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After being shut down for the better part of Wednesday, most lanes of the 5 Freeway reopened early Thursday morning.

No structures had been reported damaged as of Wednesday night. A news conference was planned by fire officials at 10 a.m.

In all, eight firefighters were treated for heat-related problems, including six who were sent to hospitals, Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas Ewald said.

More injuries were expected as crews cope with extreme heat that was expected to stretch into next week, Ewald said during a news conference Wednesday night.

“Wearing heavy firefighting gear, carrying packs, dragging hose, swinging tools, the folks out there are just taking a beating," he said.

---

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, about 250 county firefighters and 115 Forest Service firefighters are battling the blaze with the help of 15 air tankers and helicopters.

Evacuation orders remained in effect Thursday north of Northlake Hills Elementary School, south of Templin Highway, including the Paradise Ranch Mobile Estates, east of the Golden State Freeway and west of Castaic Lagoon.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection San Diego Capt. Thomas Shoots told the Los Angeles Times there were “multiple close calls” for residents rushed to evacuate.

“We had multiple 911 calls from folks unable to evacuate” because the flames surrounded their properties, Shoots told the paper.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, 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.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said residents were advised to evacuate to the north to escape the flames.

All lanes of the northbound Golden State Freeway were reopened at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, and two southbound lanes of the freeway were reopened about three hours afterward, the CHP reported.

The Castaic Regional Sports Complex is closed Thursday because of fires near the area. The sports complex could be closed for the weekend.

San Francisquito Canyon Road between Copper Hill Road in Santa Clarita and Spunky Canyon Road in Green Valley is closed because an overturned big rig is blocking traffic.

City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.