The I-5 Freeway through the Grapevine has reopened several hours after the fast-growing Hughes Fire forced the major thoroughfare to close in both directions.
The southbound side reopened around 5 p.m. and the northbound side reopened an hour later.
The California Highway Patrol reopened the freeway after smoke was no longer causing visibility concerns on the roadway.
The fast-moving wildfire broke out just before 11:00 a.m. in Castaic. Fueled by strong winds and dry brush, it quickly grew to 500 acres within one hour.
All lanes of the I-5 Freeway through the Grapevine were closed this afternoon, from SR-126 for northbound traffic and at Grapevine Road for southbound traffic. During the closure, drivers were urged to use alternate routes, such as Highway 166 towards Highway 101 or Highway 58 through Tehachapi.
Two off-ramps along the I-5, at Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road, had been shut down earlier as the fire erupted.
Evacuation orders are in place for about 19,000 residents in the area. Ventura County has also issued an evacuation order for affected residents, according to Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services.
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