5,208-acre Castaic brush fire forces evacuations; 12% contained

A brush fire that raced across thousands of acres of terrain in Castaic and left seven firefighters with heat-related injuries grew rapidly overnight, but fire crews began establishing a containment line around the massive inferno and will be aided Thursday by the addition of two Super Scooper aircraft that will dramatically bolster the aerial attack.

The Route Fire, which began around noon Wednesday alongside the Golden State (5) Freeway north of Lake Hughes Road, was mapped at 5,208 acres as of Thursday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, but the blaze was 12% contained.

Those figures were expected to be adjusted at a late-morning news conference by fire authorities.

Seven county firefighters suffered heat-related injuries while battling the blaze, and five of them were taken to a hospital for treatment, according to the department. All injured firefighters were said to be in good condition Wednesday evening.

Evacuation orders remained in effect 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. The elementary school was evacuated Wednesday, with no injuries to any students or staff.

Nearby Castaic High School was unaffected, and that campus remained open Thursday.

Evacuees were advised to head north to escape the fire zone. Frasier Mountain High School at 700 Falcon Way in Lebec was being used as an evacuation center. The Castaic Animal Care Shelter at 31044 Charlie Canyon Road was being open to assist evacuees with animals.

Firefighters in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft worked into the night to take advantage of slightly lower temperatures to begin getting an upper hand in the fight. That aerial attack will get a major upgrade Thursday with the addition of two Super Scooper aircraft, which arrived in the Southland earlier this week from Canada under an annual contract that puts them in service locally during fire season.

That contract went into effect Thursday.

“Excessive heat, low humidity and steep terrain will continue to pose the biggest challenge for firefighters today (Thursday),” fire officials said in an incident update statement. “This combination has the potential for large plume growth, uphill runs and short-range spotting.”

Fire officials said they would be working to keep the fire west of Castaic Lake, east of Palumas Canyon, south of Fall Creek and north of Lake Hughes Road.

Temperatures in the area will be in the triple-digits, thanks to a heat wave that is expected to continue through the weekend.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, the northbound 5 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.

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 far left lane of the northbound freeway was later closed again to accommodate firefighting equipment.

The Castaic Regional Sports Complex was closed Thursday because of the fire. The sports complex could remain closed for the weekend.

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