GORMAN (CNS) – A rapidly-moving wildfire that broke out early this morning north of Pyramid Lake has seared almost 500 acres with only 5% containment, fire authorities said Thursday.
By 7 a.m., the fast moving fire had scored 490 acres, officials said.
It broke out shortly after 1 a.m. in the 45100 block of Copco Avenue, east of the Golden State (5) Freeway and south of Highway 138.
Firefighters from Los Angeles County Fire, Angeles National Forest Fire and Kern County were jointly battling the flames amid winds that at times have gusted up to 30 miles an hour, according to reports from the scene.
Video showed high, intense flames leaping in the air not far from the 5 Freeway.
“The winds have been very erratic,” John Miller, public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service, told reporters at the scene. “This fire went from an acre to 100 acres in an extremely short period of time.”
There was concern Thursday morning for the Pyramid Lake RV Park, not far from where the fire started. Residents there were under a shelter-in-place order.
By 3 a.m., the fire had exceeded 200 acres as it chewed through brush and surrounded the RV park, destroying a double wide trailer, two vehicles and two outhouses.
The fire forced a closure of the 5 freeway, which was re-opened around 4 a.m.
Two northbound lanes remained closed Thursday morning between Vista del Lago Road and Smokey Bear Road, Miller said.
Northbound off-ramps at both roads were also closed.
An evacuation warning has been issued for the Paradise RV Park and three other areas in the vicinity of the fire, according to Angeles National Forest officials.
Miller said numerous air resources were being brought in to help fight the flames.
“We’re just going to continue to battle the fire until it’s out,” he said.
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