Evacuations lifted as Ridge Fire in Gorman reaches 54% containment
Forward progress stopped and all evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by Saturday evening.
GORMAN, Calif. -- Fire crews gained control of a brush fire in Gorman near the Los Angeles County-Kern County line, which triggered evacuation orders and warnings for some residents and a temporary freeway closure on Friday.
Fire crews stayed close to the hillsides surrounding the 5 Freeway in Gorman, keeping an eye out for hotspots and ready to attack any flare-ups of the blaze that has already burned hundreds of acres of dry brush.
The Ridge Fire broke out on W. Gorman Post Road, according to the L.A. County Fire Department. It was first reported around 2:30 p.m. Friday.
The fire quickly grew from an estimated 100 acres to 1,057 acres as it spread to the 5 Freeway, causing major traffic delays. By Saturday, it had grown to 1,108 acres and was 54% contained.
In an update shortly after 6 p.m., the L.A. County Fire Department said forward progress had been stopped. Crews will continue to work overnight to increase containment lines and put out hot spots.
At the height of the fire on Friday, AIR7 video showed a lot of thick smoke blanketing the area. At one point, a "firenado" was spotted along the fire line. ABC7 Meteorologist Dallas Raines estimated it was between 70 and 100 feet tall. "Firenadoes" form when the intense hot air around the fire rises, and cool air blows in and starts spinning around.
Firefighters used aircraft to make water drops and drop lines of retardant. The flames moved rapidly downhill toward the northbound side of the 5 Freeway before jumping over and charring more acres on the south side.
That prompted the California Highway Patrol to close all northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway on Friday night. Crews quickly issued a second SigAlert for the rest of the freeway, closing all southbound lanes. With the freeway fully shut down, traffic grew in the area.
Some drivers ran out of gas, while others watched their tanks empty as they moved slowly toward Gorman.
"We had the AC off and like everything, windows down. So it's been pretty miserable for the last four hours," said motorist AJ Apple.
One family was trying to make their way to Merced when they ran out of gas in Gorman.
"We had a full tank of gas until we were stuck sitting there, idly, for four hours. Just stop and go," Amber Lucky said.
"There was also like, semi-trucks jammed, like semi-truck to semi-truck to semi-truck, so it was like, almost impossible to get over and off," said Charlie Lucky. "So by the time we got off, our car had six miles left, and then the gas station was six miles away. And then we get there, and there's no gas."
All southbound lanes were reopened a few hours after that, followed by northbound lanes about an hour later. Still, crews continued to battle the blaze.
Several L.A. County zones were under evacuation orders and warnings, in addition to one Kern County zone. By Saturday evening, all evacuations had been lifted.
Still, officials noted that an advisory was still in place for the areas previously under evacuation orders and warnings, meaning there is no longer immediate danger, but residents should stay alert and monitor for updates.
