LOS ANGELES — A wildfire near Castaic prompted mandatory evacuations and the closure of all lanes of the 5 Freeway on Wednesday afternoon as triple-digit temperatures hit Southern California.
The Route fire was first reported just after noon Pacific time and was burning along the freeway near Lake Hughes Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
By 5:20 p.m., the fire had grown to 600 acres as authorities ordered evacuations for the Paradise Ranch Estates mobile home park and structures south of Templin Highway, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
