Firefighters gained ground Saturday on a pair of wildfires in rugged areas north of Los Angeles – the Los Padres National Forest and in the suburb of Castaic.
The Grand Fire, which ignited in mountainous terrain midday Wednesday, has grown to more than 4,300 acres but was 80 percent contained, according to CAL Fire. The fire was expected to be fully encircled by Monday.
At one point, nearly 1,900 firefighters were working the Grand Fire, with costs estimated at $3.7 million. A state-run off-roading area in Hungry Valley and Piru Creek remained closed, as did roads leading into those places.
Isolated flare-ups in unburned areas were occurring, CAL Fire said in its 6:30 a.m. update Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Lake Fire, which broke out in the Castaic area just after 1 p.m. on Friday, was 75 percent contained after spreading to 712 acres, CAL Fire said at 8:45 a.m. Saturday.
The blaze had been reported at 575 acres on Friday evening.
The fire had burned toward Castaic Lake after prompting the temporary evacuation of 19 homes, the lockdown of a nearby elementary school, and the closure of one lane of the 5 Freeway.
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