Los Angeles County fire officials told Eyewitness News that the blaze was sparked when a man crashed his motorcycle in the area. The condition of that motorcycle rider was not known.
As of 11 p.m., officials said the fire was nearly containment with 500 acres burned. All lanes of the 5 Freeway were open again. Firefighters say there are no flames, but they're still working to snuff out any hot spots.
The fire was reported at about 1 p.m. Friday. Six helicopters and three fixed-wing tankers battled the blaze, along with 450 firefighters on the ground.
The blaze shut down the 5 Freeway, snarling traffic for several miles. Drivers were forced to exit near Parker Road and find alternate routes. Lanes began opening at about 8 p.m.
Fire officials say this is the early start of fire season.
"We're expecting an active brush season, an early brush season, so people need to be award of that. And we are in a drought condition, as far as the fuel moistures are real low already. Fuel conditions are a about a month ahead of what they usually are. We're seeing stuff early June that we normally see in July," said Dave Thies with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
No structures were threatened in the fire and no injuries were reported.
View photos of the brush fire that erupted near the 5 Freeway in Castaic.
