UPDATE—FRAZIER PARK, LEBEC, GORMAN, THE GRAPEVINE, CA (Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7 a.m.) —Closures of freeways are shifting.during the battle against the Saddleridge fire in the San Fernando Valley south and west of  Santa Clarita. Check Caltrans directly to see changes, which are happening intermittently. They announced southbound 5 at Calgrove Boulevard had been opened at 5:54 p.m. Friday.  They listedt these connectors available: SB 5 to NB 14; NB 5 to NB 14; SB 5 to EB 210; EB 118 to WB 210; EB 118 to NB 405.  Caltrans showed these closures still in effect: NB 5 at 118; SB 14 at Newhall Ave; WB 210 at 118; EB 210 at 5; NB 405 at 118.

FRAZIER PARK, LEBEC, GORMAN, THE GRAPEVINE, CA (Friday, Oct. 11 at 6 a.m.) —Commutes to areas south of Santa Clarita will be blocked this morning via Interstate 5, 14, and 210 due to the Saddleridge and Sandelwood fires in the San Fernando Valley. Highway 126 is also slowed to a crawl. Highway 166 to 33 is a possible alternate route for some. Both north and southbound I-5 lanes are blocked from I-210 to Calgrove, according to news reports.

Last update logged 4,600 acres burned by 4 a.m.. Evacuations have been ordered for 12,000 homes—over 100,000 people—due to fire conditions in Sylmar, Porter Ranch areas.

Fire conditions in the Mountain Communities are also hazardous due to dry conditions. Be very cautious with spark-generating tools. Be very careful to put out and discard cigarettes safely.

This is part of the October 11, 2019 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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