King Fire Forces 5 Freeway Closure, Triggers Evacuation Warnings In LA County

GORMAN, CA — A rapidly moving wildfire that broke out Thursday north of Pyramid Lake has seared 577 acres with 20% containment.

Evacuation warnings were issued in the Hungry Valley, Paradise Ranch and Gorman areas.

Crews from Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Angeles National Forest Fire Department and Kern County are battling the blaze. By 4 a.m., the 5 Freeway was largely reopened, and the blaze was 5 percent contained. However, as of 6:30 a.m., on/off ramps in both directions of the freeway were closed near Smokey Bear Road.

SEE ALSO: Gorman Fire Map: See King Fire Perimeter, Evacuation Areas

Firefighters from Los Angeles County, Angeles National Forest and Kern County fire departments were jointly battling the flames amid winds that at times have gusted up to 30 miles an hour, according to reports from the scene.

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."

By 3 a.m., the fire had exceeded 200 acres as it chewed through brush and surrounded the Pyramid Lake RV park, destroying a double-wide trailer, two vehicles and two out buildings.

By 7 a.m., the fire had scored 490 acres, officials said. The acreage and containment numbers were updated around 12:30 p.m. Thursday to 577 acres burned and 20% containment.

There was concern Thursday for the Pyramid Lake RV Park, not far from where the fire started. Residents in the Pyramid Lake RV Park, not far from where the fire started, were under a shelter-in-place order.

An evacuation warning was been issued for the Paradise RV Park and three other areas in the vicinity of the fire, according to Angeles National Forest officials.

The fire forced an early morning closure of the 5 freeway, which was reopened around 4 a.m.

Two northbound lanes remained closed Thursday afternoon between Vista del Lago Road and Smokey Bear Road, Miller said. Northbound off-ramps at both roads were also closed. Northbound traffic was backed up for miles.

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.

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