The Peak Fire, a third fire in the Los Angeles area is forcing people in their cars to turn around, driving the opposite direction on the 118 freeway.
The California Highway Patrol has shut down the 118 in the area and Metrolink has shut down its service between Simi Valley and Chatsworth.
According to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, an immediate evacuation was ordered in the unincorporated L.A. County areas of Box Canyon and Lake Manor.
The fire has blazed at least 20 acres of land and is currently contained at 105 acres.
Breaking: The Rocky Fire, a new blaze burning near the 118 Freeway in the Simi Valley area, is forcing people to turn their cars around and drive the wrong way on the freeway. https://t.co/95Rk8SDGTP pic.twitter.com/sKihj5GtLD
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) November 12, 2018
So far the American Jewish University Brandeis-Bardin campus is safe. Vice President, Enrollment Management & Marketing Joanna Gerber told the Journal that, “Our campus and everyone on it, including staff and livestock, are currently safe and accounted for.”
“We are currently monitoring the situation very closely and in constant contact with our partners in emergency services/law enforcement. We have not been asked to evacuate at this time and will closely follow any instructions from local law enforcement should that situation change,” Gerber said.
CBS L.A. also said that Ventura County fire officials initially named the Peak Fire the Rocky Fire, because they incorrectly reported that it had broken out near Rocky Peak.
This story will be updated.
UPDATE: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. to describe the growth of the fire.
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