A fast-growing fire that broke out Thursday near the Grapevine has prompted an evacuation order and closed a stretch of the 5 Freeway, according to authorities.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said in a statement shortly before 5 p.m. that that its crews were responding to a 10-acre brush fire in Gorman.
Around 5:45 p.m., the department said the blaze, dubbed the Danny fire, had spurred an evacuation order for an area roughly bounded by Old Ridge Road in the east and Interstate 5 near Bald Mountain in the west. As of about 6:45 p.m., the fire had blackened about 140 acres and was 7% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“Gather family, pets, and LEAVE NOW,” the alert read. “Your safety is in danger if you stay.”
Evacuation warnings were issued for nearby areas including in the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Sgt. Christian Stevens, a spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol Southern Division, said that the 5 Freeway was shut down in both directions in the Grapevine, near Smokey Bear Road, from about 4:30 p.m. to around 6:30, at which point some lanes were reopened.
Stevens said the closures were necessary because smoke was affecting road visibility.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
