The Santa Clarita Valley air quality has been deemed “moderate” due to overnight gusty winds bringing heavy smoke from northern wildfires.

A heavy smoke layer from the Windy Fire in the Sequoia National Forest combined with the smouldering Emigrant Fire in the Grapevine has led to a visible decline in air quality for the Santa Clarita Valley.

Widespread haze and smoke was encompassing most of SW California today due to large wildfires in the southern Sierra Nevada Mtns. #GOES17 shows the smoke coverage (left). Air quality is a moderate concern (right). #CAwx #LAweather #wildfire pic.twitter.com/U53PvXB38G

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) September 20, 2021

The nearby Emigrant Fire that broke out on Saturday was brought to 65% containment and 255 acres overnight by firefighters, according to Angeles National Forest (ANF) officials.

See Related: Well-Involved Truck Fire Sparks Brush Fire North Of Santa Clarita

The Emigrant fire started as a tractor-trailer fire on the northbound Vista Del Lago exit on Interstate 5 near Pyramid Lake, and quickly spread to the brush on Friday afternoon.

ANF officials explained that the fire is named “Emigrant” since the location is in the general area near Emigrant Landing Day Use Area at Pyramid Lake.

Emigrant Fire incident map (Courtesy of ANF)

As of Monday morning, the fire is burning in a northerly direction, east of Interstate 5 and north of the Vista Del Lago overpass, which is east of Pyramid Lake.

“The fire remains a potential threat to a high-pressure natural gas line, power transmission lines, homes in the area as well as interstate commerce on interstate 5,” according to the ANF report.

See Related: Brush Fire Breaks Out Near Escondido Canyon North Of Santa Clarita

All lanes of interstate 5 are open as of 9 a.m. Monday, however Vista Del Lago Road and both exits remain closed, according to ANF. Motorists are asked to exercise extreme caution in the area.

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