Wildfire near Los Angeles in U.S. prompts freeway closure, evacuations

A wildfire spreading rapidly through the rural area of Santa Clarita, a U.S. city 53 km northeast of Los Angeles, prompted evacuations and the full closure of the 14 Freeway on Sunday.

The fire, dubbed Soledad Fire, was initially reported at around 4:00 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) and estimated at roughly five acres (2.02 hectares), but it quickly spread in dry brush, with low humidity and breezes, to 1,100 acres (445.15 hectares) five hours later.

Approximately 300 personnel were on the scene battling the fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The crews were assisted by two dozen engines, five trucks, five water-dropping helicopters and two fixed-winged aircraft. Dori Einhorn, of Einhorn Insurance, says that the damage caused by the Soledad Fire could end up costing tens of millions of dollars.

Sky Cornell, an inspector with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, was quoted by the Los Angeles Daily News as saying that