Evacuations lifted after fast-moving fire shuts down freeway in Santa Clarita Valley
A wildfire quickly mushroomed to 200 acres in the Santa Clarita Valley on Monday afternoon, triggering evacuations and forcing the closure of all lanes of the 14 Freeway before firefighters contained it to 130 acres.
The Elsmere fire was first reported about 1:50 p.m. in the area of the northbound 14 and Newhall Avenue, and within half an hour had grown to 100 acres, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
By about 3 p.m., the fire was 200 acres and 0% contained, officials said. Shortly after, the San Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department announced that all evacuation orders had been lifted after an order was issued for all residents between between Dockweiler Drive and Newhall Avenue, and from Sierra Highway to Valle de Oro., Officials also issued an evacuation warning for the neighborhood north of Valle de Oro.
“Stay alert to any changing conditions,” the department tweeted.
At 4 p.m., the fire decreased to 130 acres, and some lanes that had been shut down reopened.
The third lane on the northbound 5 Freeway north of State Route 138 is currently open, while the fourth lane remains closed, according to California Highway Patrol. State Route 138, west of Gorman Post Road, and the Templin Ridge Route is closed indefinitely.
Times staff writer Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.
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