LOS ANGELES >> A rapidly growing wildfire straddling the Ventura-Los Angeles county line Thursday afternoon triggered evacuations in and around Piru and Castaic amid a major heat wave that officials warned could foster extreme fire growth and behavior.
The Canyon fire was initially reported to be about 30 acres, but within about two hours, that estimate jumped to more than 1,000 acres, according to Ventura County officials . By 10 p.m., the fire had burned 4,856 acres and was spreading east toward Castaic and Interstate 5 in L.A. County.
The blaze broke out around 2 p.m. near Holser Canyon Road, northeast of Piru — a small, unincorporated town not far from Castaic Junction, where Interstate 5 meets Highway 126, according to Ventura County officials.
Around 4,000 residents and 1,400 st