Containment increases to 24% on Post fire in Gorman

A tree continues to burn after the Post fire Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcio José Sánchez)

High winds and low humidity battered the area surrounding the wildfire along the 5 Freeway in northern Los Angeles County near Gorman on Tuesday (June 18), which has consumed more than 15,000 acres.

Yet fire crews have made significant progress in the face of the massive bushfire, with containment increasing from 20% to 24%.

Containment is the percentage of the fire boundary that authorities believe will not be breached by the flames.

After a fire in Gorman near Pyramid Lake; Inland fires are well contained

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The fire is being fought by a unified command that includes the U.S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Ventura County Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and other police departments also provided support.

Dubbed the Post Fire, it threatened some structures and caused the evacuation of about 1,200 people from the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. Wind continued to push the flames south toward Pyramid Lake, which was closed, and street closures were put in place south of Ralphs Ranch Road at Quail Lake Road.

A commercial property was destroyed. Cal Fire reported one person was injured by the fire Monday evening, although no details were released. Firefighters earlier said two adults and a child suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to hospitals for treatment.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a wildfire smoke advisory for the Santa Clarita and Castaic areas, with northwest winds expected to push smoke from the fire southeast toward Santa Clarita, the San Fernando Valley and parts of the Angeles National Forest. People were advised to limit their exposure by staying indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking immediate shelter, avoiding vigorous physical activity and running air conditioners or air purifiers.

“It is best to avoid using swamp coolers or whole-house fans that bring in outside air,” the agency said.

The Post Fire broke out around 1:45 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Ralph's Ranch and Gorman School roads near the 5 Freeway, Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Craig Little said.

It quickly increased to 2,000 acres at 4:45 p.m., then 4,400 acres at 7:15 p.m. By midnight Saturday, it had reached 10,504 acres.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. California Highway Patrol Officer DC Williams told KTLA5 the fire burned vehicles in a McDonald's parking lot and at a nearby auto body shop.

This is a developing story. Please check again for updates.