Gas Line Explosion in Castaic Leads to 5 Freeway Closure and Shelter-in-Place Order
A gas line explosion in Castaic prompted the closure of the 5 Freeway and a shelter-in-place order for residents, with no injuries reported.
A gas line explosion occurred in Castaic on Saturday afternoon, leading to the closure of the 5 Freeway and a shelter-in-place order for local residents. The incident was reported around 4:20 p.m. near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Brian Kight confirmed that no injuries resulted from the explosion.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) closed all lanes of the 5 Freeway at 5:12 p.m., diverting northbound traffic to State Route 126 and southbound traffic to State Route 138.
A shelter-in-place order was issued at 5:40 p.m., advising residents to close all doors, windows, and vents, and to turn off HVAC systems.
By 6 p.m., the gas company had shut off both sides of the broken gas line, though firefighters and a hazardous materials task force continued to address residual leakage.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
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Los Angeles TimesFact-checking
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