Fire, 2 lanes closed on I-5; traffic snarled

By Venturan — John B.

The 5N is closed again, this time due to brush fire near LaSalle Canyon:

Homes on the west side of LaSalle Canyon Road are being evacuated due to a fast-moving brush fire reported near the I-5 and Calgrove Boulevard, in the LaSalle Canyon area.

Resources from Los Angeles County Fire and Angeles National Forest are on scene.

The CHP has closed two lanes on the northbound lanes of the I-5 at Weldon Canyon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those with property at risk due to the fire.

Let us also not forget the commuters – for the second time this week during peak traffic hours, a substantial portion of our only major artery has been cut off, and there is no real alternative but to sit and wait.

UPDATE 3:10pm: KHTS is reporting that the fire is moving away from the homes at LaSalle Canyon.

UPDATE 3:57pm: Just what first responders need: a bunch of drivers making a bad situation worse. From The Signal:

Comments (11)

navigatorJuly 23, 2010 at 2:28 pm

If it’s moving away from the La Salle homes it must either be burning down to the freeway or south to the mobile home park. What the heck is it with that stretch of I-5. If cars and trucks aren’t crashing then the hills are burning down.

JeffJuly 23, 2010 at 3:07 pm

And they wanted to build 5,000 homes there.

ReaderMamaJuly 23, 2010 at 2:35 pm

Another fire now, in Acton at Escondido Cyn. Tis the season . . .

ToddJuly 23, 2010 at 2:41 pm

KHTS is now reporting the fire is out in LaSalle Canyon…. but only 2 lanes open. Little Tujunga I’ll see you for the second time this week!

AlanJuly 23, 2010 at 4:39 pm

It took my wife 2 1/2 – 3 hours from the valley, I am just sitting here at work looking at the computer traffic map waiting to clear up so I can leave rather sit in my office than in traffic

CCJuly 23, 2010 at 6:03 pm

Me too, but I tried Balboa first so my total was 2 1/2

ToddJuly 24, 2010 at 9:57 pm

I did Little Tujunga/Sand Canyon. 1:10 from Burbank. Normally ranges 35-55 (via 5 to 14), so I’d say not too shabby.

navigatorJuly 26, 2010 at 8:03 am

I took LTC also. The only bad part was getting from the 210 offramp to the stop sign in the canyon. After that I was off and running. My daughter and I left the valley at the same time and by the time i made it to Sierra Hwy and Placerita she was still on the 5 at the 210. It only took me 1 hr from the 210 offramp.

CastaicClayJuly 25, 2010 at 3:43 pm

I wish the F.D. would act with some more urgency to reopen lanes after it is safe.

JulieJuly 25, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Todd, I promise I won’t tell anyone, but can you tell me exactly how you get from Valencia to Burbank via Sand Canyon/Little Tujunga? I was an hour late to my second day at a new job last week and could really use the tip. THANK YOU!!

navigatorJuly 26, 2010 at 8:08 am

Be sure not to divulge our secret! Sand Canyon over the mountain to the 210 Fwy. That simple. It’s a very winding road so be careful. As I came out of the canyon just before leaving the Angeles Forest I came across a lady who didn’t quite make it around one of the turns and tore off the right front of her truck on the side of a cliff.