The brush fire in the Gorman area near the Kern County line was 95% contained Monday after burning 1,134 acres, but a chance of thunderstorms loomed over the burn area, authorities said.
Firefighters made steady progress throughout Sunday when containment started at 78%, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced, adding that forward spread had been stopped.
“Firefighters will be working today to increase containment lines and monitor and put out hot spots,” LACoFD officials said.
All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted.
By midday Saturday, the American Red Cross closed a shelter established at the Castaic Sports Complex Gymnasium.
The fast-moving 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 LACoFD.
It spread rapidly as the flames advanced toward the freeway, initially forcing 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 battled 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 said 139 structures were threatened, but no injuries were reported.
Extreme heat will continue to be a factor with temperatures expected to reach the mid-90s with winds of 8-12 mph out of the southwest, with gusts up to 20 mph.
“Additionally, forecasts over the next few days show weather instability and chances of thunderstorms over the fire area,” according to a LACoFD update issued Monday morning.
Updates are available at lacounty.gov/emergency.