The Route Fire, which scorched over 5,000 acres and damaged two buildings in August, was “accidentally” sparked by construction crews in Castaic, officials said. The investigation, conducted by the Los Angeles County Arson and Fire Unit investigators,  concluded that the Route Fire which was sparked on Aug. 31, 2022, was the result of Caltrans work being conducted by a third-party ...

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger thanked Governor Gavin Newsom Monday for declaring a state of emergency, allowing state and federal funds to be used to help relieve the damage caused by the Route Fire. In a letter sent to Newsom Monday,  Barger expressed her appreciation for his recent State of Emergency Proclamation that directs Caltrans to request FEMA assistance ...

In an effort to help L.A. County recover from the damages of the Route Fire that broke out in Castaic in August, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Saturday.  The proclamation directs the California state government to assist local L.A. County authorities with the recovery effort and directs the California Department of Transportation to request immediate assistance ...

A fourth lane of travel on the 5 Freeway north of Castaic has been reopened for travel, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday travel season. At 4 a.m. Tuesday, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) opened a fourth lane on the northbound Interstate 5 in Castaic, where the Route Fire caused significant damage to retaining walls that support the ...

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger asked the State to allocate additional resources to repair damages to the 5 Freeway caused by the Route Fire amid traffic congestion on streets in Castaic. On Friday, Barger issued a public letter to Castaic Community Members detailing her efforts to expedite the repairs of the 5 Freeway damaged in the Route Fire last ...

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced that the two right lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway are set to remain closed through Labor Day weekend for emergency repairs due to the Route Fire. The two right lanes of the northbound 5 freeway are set to be closed between Lake Hughes Road and Templin ...

As firefighters continue mopping up hot spots from the Route Fire in Castaic and gain more containment, lanes have opened to residents and all evacuation orders have been lifted as of Friday. Update (10:00 a.m. Sept. 3):  Containment is being reported at 71 percent, according to LACoFD. Two northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway will remain closed this weekend due ...

An immediate evacuation notice from the Emergency Alert System on Wednesday telling the entirety of L.A. County and the “Eastern North Pacific Ocean” area to evacuate due to a fire was sent “in error” by Los Angeles County, the Ventura County Sheriff informed. The original message was apparently meant to be a “non-weather emergency message” from the National Weather Service ...

A brush fire in Castaic has broken out Wednesday afternoon and is spreading at a rapid rate. Thursday Evening Update (7:35 p.m.) All evacuation orders were lifted as of 7:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Ridge Route Road has been reopened to residents with ID Checks, according to LACoFD. Thursday Evening Update (7:17 p.m.) The Route ...

The Route Fire, which broke out Saturday, is near full containment, officials said.  The brush fire first reported on Saturday has reached 464 acres and is 95 percent contained, according to officials with the Angeles National Forest.  The Route Fire was first reported on both sides of the 5 Freeway at Templin Highway, a few miles north of Castaic.  As ...