Brush fire near Santa Clarita slows traffic Monday afternoon

A brush fire near Santa Clarita Monday afternoon closed Highway 14 for a time and jammed traffic on northbound Interstate 5 through the corridor into the evening.

The Elsmere Fire was reported around 1:30 p.m. along the northbound 14 near Newhall Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, along the south edge of Santa Clarita.

The incident closed Highway 14 in both directions for a time, jamming northbound traffic from the San Fernando Valley. The highway reopened by 7:30 p.m.

Authorities estimated the fire's size at 130 acres.

Further north, impacts over the Grapevine from a brush fire that broke out Sunday along the 5 near Gorman had eased by late Monday afternoon after all northbound lanes of the freeway had reopened as of 5 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported.

Also Monday, another brush fire, the 166 Fire, was reported around 6 p.m. near the juncture of highways 166 and 33 east of Cuyama. The blaze prompted closures along Highway 166 for a time, though the route had been reopened by 8:30 p.m. Authorities said forward progress of the fire was stopped at 130 acres.

Gretchen Wenner covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at gretchen.wenner@vcstar.com or 805-437-0270.

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