A possible explosive device was rendered safe Friday evening near the intersection of Newhall Ranch Road and Rye Canyon West, officials said.

Update (5:55 p.m.):The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosives Detail “ultimately rendered the item safe,” at approximately 5:08 p.m., said Lt. Leo Bauer with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

A KHTS reporter at the scene reported that traffic has resumed normally in the area.

Officials did not say what the item was, but witnesses said it looked like a crock pot.

Update (4:40p.m.): The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosives Detail will be bringing in a robot to investigate the suspicious item.

Initial reports indicate the suspicious item may be “some kind of pressure cooker,” said Sgt Waterman of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Arson and Explosives and K-9 units were still en route as of 4:15 p.m.

A KHTS reporter at the scene described the suspicious item as a metallic silver sphere about one foot in diameter leaning up against a light pole.

Newhall Ranch Road is closed in both directions from Rye Canyon and Copper Hill to the 5 freeway.

Traffic is backing up as a result of the road closures, and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

Below is a list of road closures as of 4:10 p.m., according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials:

• W/B Newhall Ranch Road at Dickason Dr.
• E/B Newhall Ranch Road at Gateway Village
• N/B Rye Canyon at Avenue Scott
• S/B Copper Hill Dr (Rye Canyon) at Kelly Johnson Pkwy
• N/B I-5 Fwy off-ramp to E/B Newhall Ranch Road (Traffic diverted to W/B Newhall Ranch Road only)

No additional information is available at this time.

Ed. Note: This is a breaking news story. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

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