Route Fire (2022)

Route Fire
Following image shows the Route fire burning on August 31, 2022
Date(s)	August 31, 2022 (2022-08-31) – September 7, 2022 (2022-09-07)
Location	Castaic, Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates	34.5255°N 118.6479°W / 34.5255; -118.6479
Statistics[1]
Burned area	5,208 acres (2,108 ha)
Impacts
Non-fatal injuries	7 firefighters
Structures destroyed	2 structures destroyed
Ignition
Cause	Under investigation
Map
Location in Southern California

8km
5miles

Route Fire

  

Location of Route Fire

The Route Fire was a wildfire that burned during the 2022 California wildfire season, along Interstate 5 near the community of Castaic in Los Angeles County, California during a dramatic state-wide heatwave in late August and early September, 2022.^[2] At least seven firefighters sustained heat-related injuries, while two structures were destroyed and 5,208 acres (2,108 ha) burned.^[3]

Events

Context

Southern California was experiencing a significant heatwave at the time. Conditions at the time were very dry and hot which were ingredients to create a fire like this one. On August 31, 2022, at 1:48 PM local time the fire began.

August 31

When the fire began, temperatures had reached well over 100 degrees. A few minutes after it began, it burned about 60 acres.^[4] Nearly 40 minutes later, the fire more than doubled its size, which grew to about 165 acres.^[5] Later that evening, the fire soared into growth heading up to 4,625 acres with still 0% containment.^[6]

September 1

The next day (September 1, 2022) the fire still expanded, but not by a lot. As the fire expanded to 5,208 acres, firefighters were able to contain the fire ever so slightly at a 12% containment.^[7] Eventually that evening, the fired had stopped expanding as the FD was able to advance containing about 27% of the fire.^[8]

September 2

By the morning of September 2 containment reached 37%.^[9] By that evening it had grown to 56% containment.^[10]

September 3

The morning of September 3, 2022 firefighters contained 71% of the fire.^[11] That containment grew to 87% before the next day.^[12]

September 4

The containment grew up to 91% of this morning.^[13] Eventually before the next day it was reported to have a 96% containment.^[14]

September 5

Around this point, the containment was up to 98% at 7:50 AM local time before the whole fire was completely extinguished.

Impact

Closures and evacuations

Closures of Interstate 5 (both northbound & southbound) were reported. Traffic eventually piled up especially ones headed to the north as the Labor day weekend approached. The day after the fire ended (September 8, 2022) all of the northbound lanes were opened back & 2 southbound lanes opened as well. Eventually due to some poor road conditions, 2 of the right northbound lanes remained closed. At Vista Del Lago, southbound lanes were closed while northbound lanes were closed at Lake Hughes Road.^[15] For the Northbound 5, it wasn't until a few days later all lanes were reopened.^[16]

The fire caused evacuation orders to be issued in nearby communities. Residents north of the fires (in Paradise Ranch Mobile Homes) were sheltered at Frazier Mountain High School.

Cause

The cause of the Route Fire is unknown.

See also

• 2022 California wildfires

References

1. "Route Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
2. Hubler, Shawn (23 June 2022). "Weather Updates: California Heat to Peak Amid Fire and Power Worries". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
3. Guilfoil, Kyla. "Raging Route Fire injures 7 firefighters, prompts evacuation orders in southern California". ABC News. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
4. "Route Fire - Update for August 31, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
5. "Route Fire - Update for August 31, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
6. "Route Fire - Update for August 31, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
7. "Route Fire - Update for September 1, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
8. "Route Fire - Update for September 1, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
9. "Route Fire - Update for September 2, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
10. "Route Fire - Update for September 2, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
11. "Route Fire - Update for September 3, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
12. "Route Fire - Update for September 3, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
13. "Route Fire - Update for September 4, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
14. "Route Fire - Update for September 4, 2022". www.fire.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
15. "Crews battle Route Fire burning near Castaic; 98% contained". www.cbsnews.com. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
16. Lin, Summer (2022-09-09). "Northbound 5 Freeway near Castaic will be closed for several nights to repair damage from fire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-09-27.

 This article incorporates text from https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022/8/31/border-32/, a public domain work of the Government of California.