Firefighters laboring under intense heat continued making dogged progress against a large brush fire in the Castaic area, with containment up to 91% on Sunday, Sept. 4.

The Route Fire, which began around noon Wednesday alongside the 5 Freeway north of Lake Hughes Road, has burned 5,208 acres, destroyed two structures and led to seven heat-related firefighter injuries.

Cal Fire reported the 91% containment figure Sunday morning. The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Angeles National Forest were working as a unified command, with 248 personnel battling the fire Sunday, down from 467 a day earlier.

Cal Fire, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol were also assisting.

The two right lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway between Lake Hughes Road and Templin Highway were expected to stay closed though the holiday weekend, Caltrans reported. Retaining walls burned, and structural engineers must inspect wall integrity before any load is put on lanes, Caltrans said.

Ridge Route Road remained closed between Templin Highway and Pine Crest Place to all but local access and emergency crews.

Seek alternate routes to 5 Freeway near Route fire in Castaic: Caltrans

The fire threatened 500 homes at one point last week, and briefly caused some areas to be evacuated Wednesday and Thursday.

The seven firefighters who suffered heat-related injuries Wednesday have all been released from the hospital and were “doing well,” authorities said.

There were no reports of any other injuries.

One home along Ridge Route was destroyed, and a separate outbuilding in a different location was damaged, Angeles National Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia said Thursday.

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