Los Angeles County firefighters were responding to a gas line explosion in Castaic Saturday, which prompted California Highway Patrol to close a portion of the 5 freeway and the fire department to order residents to shelter-in-place.
There were no injuries, said Fire Captain Brian Kight.
Los Angeles County Fire Department received multiple reports of the explosion around 4:20 p.m. near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place, just south of Northlake Hills Elementary School.
Shortly after that, LA County Fire Department Station 149, a mile down the road, reported smelling gas. Kight said he could smell the gas from “20 minutes out.”
The CHP indefinitely closed all lanes of the 5 freeway at 5:12 p.m. On the social platform X, the CHP said all northbound traffic would be diverted to state route 126, and all southbound traffic to state route 138.
Traffic along the 5 has remained at a near standstill for more than 90 minutes.
A landslide in Castaic has ruptured an underground gas line near Northlake Hills Elementary.
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The shelter in place order, issued at 5:40 p.m., spans much of Castaic and advises residents to close all doors, windows and vents, and shut off HVAC systems.
By 6 p.m., the gas company had shut off both sides of the broken gas line, but firefighters and a hazmat task-force continued to respond a residual leak.
The cause of the explosion is unknown.
Times staff writer Daniel Miller contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
