A wildfire that ignited in Gorman, an unincorporated community in northwestern Los Angeles County, has rapidly spread, burning nearly 15,000 acres and prompting evacuations of hundreds of people from Hungry Valley Park. The fire, named the Post Fire, began on Saturday afternoon and is currently only 2% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Cal Fire reported that 400 personnel, 70 engines, and two dozers are actively engaged in battling the blaze. Additionally, firefighting air tankers from across the state are conducting fire suppression missions as weather conditions permit.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles issued a red flag warning for the I-5 corridor in Los Angeles County and the Ventura County mountains due to forecasted wind gusts of up to 60 to 70 mph on Sunday night. These strong winds could potentially exacerbate the fire's spread.
Evacuation orders are currently in place for areas west of Interstate 5 between Pyramid Lake and Gorman, with evacuation warnings issued for areas south of Pyramid Lake between Old Ridge Route and the Los Angeles County line. California State Park Services evacuated 1,200 individuals from Hungry Valley Park as a precautionary measure.
By Saturday evening, the fire had already damaged two commercial properties, and Pyramid Lake has been closed to the public due to the fire threat. Firefighters are facing challenges due to limited visibility, and aircraft are being utilized to halt the fire's forward progress.
The impacted area is expected to experience elevated temperatures and decreased humidity over the weekend, with winds forecasted to increase, reaching gusts of up to 30 mph and exceeding 50 mph at ridge tops. The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation by Cal Fire.
