Gas Line Explosion Reported in Castaic, Los Angeles; Freeway Closed

A gas line explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon in the Castaic area, located in the northwest of Los Angeles. Local authorities responded immediately to the incident.

As a precaution, a section of the I-5 Freeway in Los Angeles was temporarily closed, and nearby residents were advised to stay indoors.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the explosion was reported around 4:20 p.m. near the intersection of Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place. Fire Captain Brian Kite confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far.

By 5:12 p.m., the California Highway Patrol closed all lanes of the freeway for safety reasons. At 5:40 p.m., most of the Castaic area was placed under a shelter-in-place order, with residents instructed to keep doors, windows, and vents closed and to turn off HVAC systems.

By 6:00 p.m., the local gas company had shut off connections on both sides of the affected gas line. Firefighters continue to work on-site to fully control the gas leak. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.