A fast-moving brush fire in the Gorman area, near the Kern County line, was 54% contained Saturday after scorching 1,108 acres, with evacuation warnings still in place.
The Ridge Fire was reported at 2:40 p.m. Friday burning northeast of the Golden State (5) Freeway near Gorman School Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
It spread rapidly as the flames quickly advanced toward the freeway, initially forcing a closure of the northbound lanes at Smokey Bear Road due to heavy smoke. The southbound lanes were subsequently closed at Frazier Mountain Park Road as the flames advanced on and eventually spotted across the freeway.
Crews from Los Angeles and Kern counties were battling the flames, with support from Angeles National Forest personnel. By late Friday afternoon, Ventura County had dispatched various resources, including aerial water-dropping assets, as the fire went to a third alarm.
Evacuation orders were issued in the Hungry Valley area, while warnings were issued along the freeway corridor north of state Route 138 to the Kern County line. Additional warnings were in place in Kern County.
All road closures were lifted by 4:30 p.m. Friday, and by Saturday morning the evacuation orders had been lifted, but some evacuation warnings remained in place in an area just north of Hungry Valley.
Authorities initially said 139 structures were threatened, but no injuries were reported. Saturday evening updates showed no structures still threatened.
Firefighters were dealing with extreme heat on Saturday, with highs between 102 and 104 degrees expected in the area, and critically dry conditions.