Barely a day after the Route Fire first sparked near the side of the 5 Freeway in Castaic, the wildfire has spread to over 5,200 acres.
The flames have snarled traffic, destroyed homes, injured firefighters and tanked the air quality around SoCal as smoke pollutes the air.
See photos of the Route Fire below:
1.
Get Southern California news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC LA newsletters.
Castaic, CA - September 01:A Quebec Super scooper makes a water drop near the northbound I-5 freeway in Castic, CA Thursday, September 1, 2022. The Route fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and is now 12% contained. The freeway was re-opened with limited lanes early Thursday. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
2.
CASTAIC, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: A firefighting helicopter performs a water drop as the Route Fire burns on August 31, 2022 near Castaic, California. Evacuations have been ordered as the brush fire has scorched more than 4,600 acres and closed down the 5 freeway at the start of a brutal heat wave in Southern California. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for most of Southern California through Labor Day. Climate models almost unanimously predict that heat waves will become more intense and frequent as the planet continues to warm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
3.
A fire retardant dropping aircraft during the Route Fire in Castaic, California, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. A fast-growing brush fire forced evacuations and the closure of I-5 near Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon as California braces for the dual onslaught of a heat wave and Labor Day weekend travel, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
4.
Fire above I-5 during the Route Fire in Castaic, California, US, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. A fast-growing brush fire forced evacuations and the closure of I-5 near Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon as California braces for the dual onslaught of a heat wave and Labor Day weekend travel, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
5.
Castaic, CA - September 01:Northbound I-5 traffic crawls along through shouldering fire in Castic, CA Thursday, September 1, 2022. The Route fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and is now 12% contained. The freeway was re-opened with limited lanes early Thursday. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
6.
CASTAIC, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Firefighters work as the Route Fire burns on August 31, 2022 near Castaic, California. Evacuations have been ordered as the brush fire has scorched more than 4,600 acres and closed down the 5 freeway at the start of a brutal heat wave in Southern California. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for most of Southern California through Labor Day. Climate models almost unanimously predict that heat waves will become more intense and frequent as the planet continues to warm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
CASTAIC, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: A mother stands with her 5-year-old son, whose school was evacuated during the Route Fire, on August 31, 2022 near Castaic, California. Evacuations have been ordered as the brush fire has scorched more than 4,600 acres and closed down the 5 freeway at the start of a brutal heat wave in Southern California. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for most of Southern California through Labor Day. Climate models almost unanimously predict that heat waves will become more intense and frequent as the planet continues to warm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
7.
CASTAIC, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: A mother embraces her 5-year-old son, whose school was evacuated during the Route Fire, on August 31, 2022 near Castaic, California. Evacuations have been ordered as the brush fire has scorched more than 4,600 acres and closed down the 5 freeway at the start of a brutal heat wave in Southern California. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for most of Southern California through Labor Day. Climate models almost unanimously predict that heat waves will become more intense and frequent as the planet continues to warm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
