The I-5 Freeway via the Grapevine is closed due to the quickly growing Hughes Fire in the northwest part of Los Angeles County and Vetnura County.
Fueled by dry vegetation and strong gusts, the more than 8,000-acre wildfire in Castaic began just before 11:00 a.m. and spread to 500 acres in just one hour.
The California Highway Patrol has announced that all lanes of the I-5 Freeway through the Grapevine would be closed for an indeterminate amount of time. For northbound traffic, SR-126 is closed, and for southbound traffic, Grapevine Road is closed.
Other routes that drivers might take include Highway 58 through Tehachapi or Highway 166 towards Highway 101.
Prior to the fire starting, two off-ramps at Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road along the I-5 had been closed.
About 19,000 local inhabitants are under evacuation orders. Additionally, Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services has issued an evacuation order for impacted residents.