Castaic, Los Angeles County, CA: Joint firefighting efforts continued the battle into the night to contain the Route Fire after a day of fighting flames during an end of summer blistering heat wave. The fire erupted just after noon, Wednesday, Aug.31, along northbound Interstate 5 north of Lake Hughes Road.

The fire has consumed 4,625 acres, with a team working under unified command – Los Angeles County Fire, U.S. Forest Service, and Cal Fire, along with Los Angeles County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol, LACoFD stated in a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday press conference.

As far as resources, there are 250 firefighters with LACoFD, just over 100 U.S. Forest Service firefighters, and resources available through the night and into Thursday, Sept. 1. Eight tankers and seven helicopters are on the scene, according to LACoFD.

Bulldozers were making progress with fire lines.

The department reported a total of eight injuries, with six transported. No structures were reported threatened at the time of the press conference, but there are evacuation centers in place.

There were many road closures in the area announced by California Highway Patrol at the press conference.

Evacuations still in place as of 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff, are north of Northlake Hills Elementary School, south of Templin Highway, Paradise Valley, east of 5 Freeway, and west of Castaic Lagoon.

Evacuations were lifted south of Northlake Hills Elementary School (Northlake, Stone Gate, Castaic Road).

Visit lacounty.gov/emergency for updates and resources for the Route Fire.

Video: Keith Johnson, Photojournalist / KNN

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