PORTER RANCH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Saddleridge Fire that erupted Thursday night forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and prompted schools in the area to close. Officials remind the public to heed the mandatory evacuations orders.

Residents whose homes are north of the 118 Freeway will have the opportunity to be escorted by the LAPD to retrieve personal items or pets that may have been left behind. Residents must have proof of residents and would only be allowed back home in 5 minute increments, the department tweeted.

Anyone interested can meet with officers at the following locations: the Porter Ranch Towncenter at Porter Ranch Drive and Rinaldi Street, as well as the Target store located at the corner of Balboa Boulevard and the San Fernando Mission Boulevard.

The following areas are under mandatory evacuation orders:

ALL of Porter Ranch.

The Oakridge Estates community.

West of Balboa, North of Sesnon to the Ventura County border with DeSoto as the western border

FIRE MAP: Active fire reports, perimeters for Saddleridge Fire

EVACUATION CENTERS
Sylmar Recreation Center, 13109 Borden Ave., was at capacity.

Northridge Recreation, 18300 Lemarsh St. in Northridge, was at capacity.

Granada Hills Recreation Center, 16730 Chatsworth St. was at capacity.

Mason Recreation Center, set up at 10500 Mason Ave. in Chatsworth was at capacity.

Lanark Recreation Center, located 21816 Lanark St. in Canoga Park, is accepting residents.

Van Nuys Recreation, set up at 14201 Huston St., is accepting residents.

Brandford Recreation Center at 13306 Brandford St. was accepting residents.

Balboa Recreation Center, located at 17015 Burbank Blvd. in Encino, is accepting residents.

ROAD CLOSURES

The I-210 is closed in both directions between the I-5 and SR 118.

One lane of SR 14 southbound is shut down from Newhall Avenue to the I-5.

I-405 northbound is closed from SR 118 to the I-5.

Connector between eastbound SR 118 to westbound I-210.

Connector between eastbound SR 118 to northbound I-405

Eastbound and westbound 118 was closed from Balboa Boulevard to De Soto Avenue.

EVACUATED ANIMALS
Canoga Discount Birds at 21731 Sherman Way, Canoga Park is taking in birds for residents who have been evacuated.
Fairplex in Pomona is accepting horses and other large animals from resident affected by evacuation orders.
Hansen Dam was accepting large animals.
Los Angeles Pierce college was accepting animals.

Map of school closures in L.A. area

SCHOOL CLOSURES
California State University, Northridge

Castaic Union School District
All schools

Moorpark College

Granada Hills
Danube Avenue Elementary School
El Oro Way Elementary School
Frost Middle School
Granada Hills Charter School
Haskell Elementary School

John F. Kennedy High School
Knollwood Prepatory Academy
Rinaldi Adult School
St. John Baptist De La Salle School
Van Gogh Elementary School

Chatsworth
Our Community School

Northridge
Valor Academy Elementary School

North Hills
Valor Academy Middle School

Porter Ranch
Castlebay Lane Charter School
Porter Ranch Community School
Jane Addams Cont HS

Northeast San Fernando Valley
All Partnerships to Uplift Communities San Fernando Valley schools

Pacoima
Bert Corona Charter School
Fenton Primary Center
Fenton Avenue Charter School
Fenton STEM
Fenton Leadership Academy

Simi Valley
All public schools

Sun Valley
North Valley Military Institute

Santa Clarita
Hart District, Newhall and Sulphur Springs schools

ADDITIONAL LAUSD SCHOOLS
Discovery Charter Preparatory School #2
James Jordan Middle School
New Academy Canoga Park
West Valley Occupational Center
Vaughn Next Century Learning Center

Ingenium Charter Schools
Gleanoaks Christian
Wooden Shoe Preschool
Heritage Christian Schools

MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE
All schools in Local District Northeast
All schools in Local District Northwest

A handful of Ventura County schools were closed due to planned power outages by Southern California Edison.
Fillmore Unified School District
Los Cerritos Middle School and Lang Ranch Elementary School in the Conejo Valley Unified School District
MATES Charter School in Thousand Oaks
Mupu School near Santa Paula

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Full story: https://abc7.la/2M7o5V1