Tumbleweed fire near Gorman burns 1,000 acres, causes evacuations

Firefighters on Monday continued to battle a a wind-driven fire that erupted Sunday along the southbound lanes of Interstate 5, just south of Gorman.

The fire has scorched about 1,000 acres and prompted evacuations at an off-roading park, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The blaze, dubbed the Tumbleweed fire, broke out at 1:45 p.m., near Gorman Road and quickly spread as gusty winds fanned the flames.

Authorities said the cause of the fire is unknown. No structures are threatened, but two firefighters suffered minor injuries and the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, an off-road driving and hiking park, was evacuated.

Containment was at 10% as of 8:52 p.m. The National Weather Service said northerly winds were at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph around Gorman.

It wasn’t the only blaze L.A. County firefighters were battling on Sunday. Before the Tumbleweed fire broke out, a small brush fire was reported in the 10500 block of Dale Road in Agua Dulce. The fire had threatened several homes but was contained after scorching 12 acres.

No homes were damaged and there were no reports of injuries .

In Pacoima, Los Angeles firefighters responded to a small blaze that erupted between the 118 Freeway and several homes in the 13000 block of West Paxton Street, according to the fire department.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire within minutes. There were no reports of injuries and no damage to homes.

Forecasters say hot and dry weather conditions will continue to pose a fire danger for much of Southern California. A warming trend is expected to hit the region this week, with the hottest days Wednesday through Sunday.