A brush fire burning along Interstate 5 in the Gorman area started early Thursday morning, prompting evacuation warnings.
The blaze, called the King Fire, sparked along Interstate 5 near Smokey Bear Road between Gorman and Pyramid Lake around 1:02 a.m.
The fire has grown to 490 acres and is 5% contained, according to a Cal Fire update posted at 7 a.m. Thursday.
Here’s what to know about the King Fire.
Latest updates on the King Fire near Gorman
The King Fire prompted the closure of the 5 Freeway in both directions, but limited travel through the area was later resumed, with motorists urged to use caution. Two northbound lanes remained closed Thursday morning between Vista del Lago Road and Smokey Bear Road. Northbound off-ramps at both roads were also closed.
Firefighters from the Angeles National Forest and the Los Angeles County Fire Department are battling the blaze.
Video showed high, intense flames leaping in the air not far from the 5 Freeway.
“The winds have been very erratic,” John Miller, public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service, told reporters at the scene. “This fire went from an acre to 100 acres in an extremely short period of time.”
There was concern Thursday morning for the Pyramid Lake RV Park, not far from where the fire started. Residents there were under a shelter-in-place order.
Miller said numerous air resources were being brought in to help fight the flames.
“We’re just going to continue to battle the fire until it’s out,” he said.
Where is Gorman in California?
Gorman is a small unincorporated community in northwestern Los Angeles County, near the border of Kern and Ventura counties. It is in the Tejon Pass area of the Grapevine, along Interstate 5, about 65 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
King Fire evacuations
An evacuation warning has been issued for the Paradise RV Park and residents of the Pyramid Lake RV Park are being advised to shelter in place, the Angeles National Forest reported.
When is peak wildfire season?
Peak wildfire season typically occurs in August, but this year, the risk may extend into fall as above-normal temperatures are expected to persist across the U.S. through November.
According to the latest outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center:
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
City News Service contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: King Fire: Fire near Gorman temporarily closes 5 freeway, prompts evacuation warnings
Reporting by James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
