What has been described as a “large brushfire” was burning Saturday in the Santa Clarita-Newhall Pass area of Los Angeles County.
The so-called “Tasha Fire” was first reported at 4:37 p.m. Saturday off the right shoulder of the Golden State (5) Freeway, where it joins the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.
Fire was reported all over the hillside on Sierra Highway just south of Needham Ranch.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation order for the Calgrove, Eternal and Wildwood areas and an evacuation warning for the surrounding areas including Newhall Pass, Del Prado and the Newhall area. By 7 p.m., the Calgrove evacuation order was downgraded to a warning.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported at 7 p.m. that the fire had consumed 10 acres.
Video from the scene showed pockets of flames eating the dried brush along a hillside.
The CHP stated the Golden State Freeway remained open but Sierra Highway is closed at Foothill Boulevard and the Newhall Avenue off-ramp off the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway are closed.
NBC4 reported that authorities are looking for a silver- or gray- colored sedan that was seen in the area of ignition at the time it happened, but there was no suggestion the fire was arson-related.