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5 Freeway reopens after Tick Branch 10 wildfire causes closure in Castaic

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A wildfire driven by aggressive winds burned several homes Thursday afternoon, Oct. 24, in Castaic, and forced the 5 Freeway to shut down for several hours.

A home burns in Castaic, CA. on Thursday, October 24, 2019. (Photo by Jacob Salzman)

Authorities believe the Castaic fire was just one of five branches of the Tick fire, which began across the Santa Clarita Valley in Canyon Country. They believe winds, speeding at about 40 mph, blew embers from the Tick fire into brush in other areas, sparking the other fires, including the one in Castaic and a one-acre fire in Val Verde, which burned four mobile homes.

Flames have scorched more than 3,900 acres and displaced more than 50,000 people in the area. Authorities said they are now treating all fires as the Tick fire.

Crews stopped the forward progress on the Castaic and Val Verde fires and worked to gain containment on the blazes.

MORE: This map shows where the wildfires are burning in LA County

“Because of the wind, you had embers cast throughout the area in separate directions,” said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Tony Imbrenda.

The Castaic fire began about 3:15 p.m. near Lake Hughes Road, off the 5 Freeway.

Initial reports put the fire at three acres. Heavy winds drove flames to a rapid rate of spread, growing to more than seven acres, burning several homes along a hillside area. By about 7 p.m., the fire had ceased its spread.

Authorities reopened the 5 Freeway about 7 p.m.

Evacuations were ordered for homes in the area while firefighters attempted to defend structures along grassy hillsides.

Authorities directed evacuees to College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road in Santa Clarita.

In addition to Los Angeles County crews, hundreds of firefighters from Ventura County and Orange County poured into the area.

Helicopters and air tankers made water drops on the numerous fires throughout the region.

The fire was originally named the Old fire, but because of its proximity to the Tick fire, authorities modified the name of the blaze to Tick Branch 10. Imbrenda said authorities are now considering all branch fires, including Tick Branch 10, as a part of the Tick Fire.

About 5 miles south of Castaic, a separate fire in Val Verde sparked among a group of mobile homes, authorities said. Four mobile homes burned in that blaze near the intersection of San Martinez Road and Chiquito Canyon Road.

With Santa Ana winds creating dangerous conditions that could spread wildfires, Southern California Edison cut power Thursday to up to 31,000 customers and was considering cutting power to areas that serve 386,000 more.

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