The 5 Freeway north of Los Angeles has been closed and a shelter-in-place order has been issued to residents in Castaic after a gas line ruptured on Saturday afternoon.
L.A. County Fire Department officials say that they received reports of an explosion in the area near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place at around 4:20 p.m., which was then followed by reports of a strong gas smell.
The 5 Freeway is a major artery that links Southern California to the rest of the state. It runs north all the way through Oregon and Washington to Canada.
It’s unclear what caused the line, which is referred to as a “transmission gas line,” to rupture, but Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies told CBS Los Angeles that it was possibly caused by a mudslide.
Los Angeles firefighters said that first responders were waiting on SoCal Gas personnel to shut off the line so they could begin their investigation.
No evacuation orders have been issued, though LAFD firefighters say that residents living within a one-mile radius of the gas line were asked to shelter in place.
California Highway Patrol officers issued a SigAlert just after 5 p.m., closing both northbound and southbound lanes north of Lake Hughes Road. Eastbound and westbound lanes of SR-318 and SR-126 were also closed to other traffic, as they were used to divert traffic from I-5. There was no word on when the SigAlert would be lifted. With the CBS LA helicopter overhead, lines of traffic were seen stretching back miles from the spot of the SigAlert.
No injuries have been reported yet.
Arson and explosives detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were called to the scene, as well as a hazardous materials team, deputies said.
CBS Los Angeles has reached out to SoCal Gas representatives for comment on the incident bus has not yet heard back.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.