Homes and schools were evacuated and the 5 Freeway temporarily shut down as a brush fire in Santa Clarita spread to over 5,000 acres on Tuesday, December 5.

The fire ignited around 9:30 am, it had reached 5,000 acres by 3:15 pm, reported ABC 7. Los Angeles County fire officials said the blaze is currently 5 percent contained.

Santa Ana winds whipped up several wildfires in southern California this week, with the largest, the Thomas fire, scorching 50,000 acres in Ventura County. Credit: Instagram/surfinjoel1985 via Storyful