Shelter-in-place order issued after gas line explodes near 5 Freeway in Castaic

Authorities were responding Saturday to reports of a gas line explosion near the 5 Freeway in Castaic.

LA County firefighters were called around 4:17 p.m. to the area of Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place. It’s unclear exactly where the explosion occurred.

Officials had issued an evacuation order that was later downgraded to a shelter-in-place order.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for the following Castaic areas:

• West of I-5
• South of North Red Oak Court
• North of Park Vista Drive
• East of Meadow Grass Drive, Victoria Road, and Mandolin Canyon Road

The entire 5 Freeway was shut down indefinitely, according to the California Highway Patrol. Northbound traffic was being diverted to the CA-126.

A witness in the area reported a sulfur smell and a loud noise that sounded like a jet engine.