A brush fire that ignited around 70 miles northwest of Los Angeles on Thursday morning has reached nearly 500 acres in size and prompted numerous evacuation warnings.
Why It Matters
The King fire began as a brush fire at around 1 a.m. local time Thursday morning in Gorman, California, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County. As of the most recent update from the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD), the fire is 490 acres in size and 5 percent contained.
What to Know
An incident summary posted on InciWeb, an interagency website often used to keep the public updated about wildfires, said that firefighters experienced “dangerous rates of spread” as the fire quickly jumped to more than 100 acres in size. It has since grown nearly five times that number as it continues to burn south towards Vista Del Lago.
Gusty winds initially proved a challenge for firefighters, LACFD Captain David Dantic told Newsweek, but the winds have since died down. The initial blaze incinerated two unoccupied RVs at the Pyramid Lake RV park.
In the hours since it ignited, the fire has tried to jump Interstate 5 three times, prompting closures in both directions. Some lanes have reopened, although the right two lanes of I-5 northbound remain closed from Vista Del Lago to Smokey Bear Road. Motorists should expect “significant delays.”
“Be prepared for a full road closure if conditions change,” the InciWeb incident summary said.
A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, showed the sky tinted orange as flames licked along the ground near Interstate 5.
Where are evacuation warnings in place?
A map of the fire on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website showed evacuation warnings had been issued on both sides of the interstate.
A map from CAL FIRE shows where the evacuation warnings, shown in yellow, have been issued.
A map from CAL FIRE shows where the evacuation warnings, shown in yellow, have been issued.
CAL FIRE
“Potential threat to life and/or property,” the evacuation warning said. “Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.”
People east of I-5 and south of Highway 138 are ordered to shelter in place, although evacuation warnings have been issued for the Paradise Ranch area east of I-5. The Pyramid Lake RV park is also under a shelter-in-place order. Evacuation warnings are in place west of I-5 and north of Highway 138, as well as south of Highway 138 and east of Old Ridge Route Road.
“Those in this area should be prepared to evacuate at moment’s notice,” a Los Angeles County webpage said. “Anyone who needs more time evacuating should consider leaving now. Remain alert to conditions and follow all instructions from field emergency responders.”
Evacuation orders, in which people are required to leave their property, have not yet been issued.
What People Are Saying
LACFD Captain David Dantic told Newsweek: “The challenge right now is the terrain and how dry everything is. It’s in a remote area, but there are evacuation warnings in place. It’s going to get hotter throughout the day, but thankfully the wind has been cooperating.”
Fire summary on InciWeb said: “[Firefighters] are currently working on keeping the fire from crossing Interstate 5 and slowing the southward spread of the fire. Aircraft has been supporting on-the-ground efforts throughout the night.”
What Happens Next
People residing near the fire should remain alert, as evacuation orders can be issued suddenly. Firefighters will continue combating the flames.
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