The "Post Fire," a rapidly expanding brush fire near the 5 Freeway in Gorman, has prompted evacuation orders and ramped up response efforts from firefighting crews. First reported on Saturday at approximately 1:48 p.m., the blaze according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, quickly grew to over 500 acres by 3 p.m. As per a KTLA report, by Saturday evening, it had expanded to more than 4,400 acres, with officials estimating nearly 11,000 acres engulfed by early Sunday morning, and the fire was zero percent contained.

3RD ALARM BRUSH FIRE | FS77 | SB 5 Fwy/Gorman Rd #Gorman | #LACoFD crews are on scene of a 500 acre brush fire with structures threatened and evacuation orders in place.#PostFire

— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) June 15, 2024

Evacuation orders were swiftly enacted in areas including Pyramid Lake, Gorman Post Road, and the Hungry Valley SVRA recreation area. Over 1,200 people were forced to quickly vacate the vicinity, as stated by California State Park Services and reported by KTLA, with additional warnings issued to the residents of Castaic due to escalating winds. An update from CAL FIRE stated that winds were expected to significantly increase, potentially exacerbating the wildfire's spread.

Structures along the affected area have been threatened, with some damages reported. The flames have been confirmed to have destroyed an auto repair shop and numerous cars parked nearby after jumping from a hillside behind a local McDonald’s. "It started as a brush fire," stated D.C. Williams with the California Highway Patrol in an interview obtained by KTLA. "That did jump the road and went over and unfortunately took out the auto shop and some cars in the parking lot. Fortunately enough, it missed a school."

Containment efforts involve both ground and air resources, with helicopters and aircraft dropping water and flame retardants to combat the fire. Visibility issues have hampered these efforts somewhat, according to a statement by CAL FIRE.

Amid the unfolding crisis, residents are advised to remain alert and to adhere to any evacuation orders. Updated information on the blaze can be found through local news sources and official fire department communications. The ongoing fire response and evacuation orders from the Los Angeles County Fire Department were confirmed through their official post on the situation, which can be viewed on their social media channel.