Photos by Will Davison

UPDATE (3:27 p.m.)

As of 3:20 p.m., the Rye Fire has grown to 5,000 acres with 5 percent containment. Newhall Ranch Road westbound between Rye Canyon Road and Interstate 5 has reopened, but the eastbound side of the road is still closed.

An evacuation center is being established by personnel from the American Red Cross at College of the Canyons (26455 Rockwell Canyon Road). Evacuations are still in effect for the Westridge community in Stevenson Ranch and the Valencia Travel Village RV Resort.

The Old Road northbound from Magic Mountain Parkway has reopened, but SR-126 westbound from I-5 remains closed.

UPDATE (12:48 p.m.)

Mandatory evacuations are in place for residents in the Westridge community. Students at West Ranch High School, Rancho Pico Junior High and Oak Hills Elementary are being evacuated to College of the Canyons (26455 Rockwell Canyon Road).

Newhall Ranch Road westbound is also closed at McBean Parkway.

Original Release:

A brush fire erupted near Rye Canyon Loop in Santa Clarita on Tuesday morning. High winds in the area caused the fire to spread to more than 500 acres by noon. A separate fire near Hasley Canyon Road and Commerce Center Drive in Castaic broke out just before 10:00 a.m.

Road closures are in effect near the fire zone and residents are asked to avoid the area. Newhall Ranch Road is closed between Interstate 5 and Rye Canyon Road, and

Interstate 5 is closed southbound at Hasley Canyon Road and northbound at Magic Mountain Parkway as of 11:45 a.m.

West Creek Academy is closed for the remainder of the day and Trinity Classical Academy in Valencia is currently evacuating students. An evacuation center has been established in the multipurpose room at Valencia High School (27801 Dickason Drive).

Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School (SCVi) in Castaic is closed as a result of the fire burning off Hasley Canyon Road. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials are evacuating the area of Rye Canyon Loop and Kelly Johnson Parkway.

High winds are pushing the fire as well as causing power outages throughout the City.

The City of Santa Clarita is posting updated road closure and evacuation information on its emergency blog at SantaClaritaEmergency.com.