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Fire Nov 08, 2024
Horse trailers evacuate as smoke from the Mountain Fire engulfs the Camarillo Heights area. | Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Fire Department/X
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Firefighters from Southern California counties and throughout the state were battling a massive wind-fueled wildfire Friday in Ventura County that has forced thousands of residents to evacuate, injured at least six people and destroyed more than 100 structures.
The Mountain Fire was initially reported Wednesday morning on South Mountain near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon and Bradley roads in the Somis area, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Santa Ana wind gusts and steep terrain enabled the brush fire to swiftly grow. It eventually reached the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway in Camarillo Heights moving west, north and south.
As of 7:20 a.m. Friday, state fire officials said the blaze has scorched 20,596 acres, and was 7% contained. The fire was threatening an estimated 11,768 structures.
“The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain, with dry and receptive fuels, which have challenged containment efforts,” according to a Cal Fire status report issued around 11:30 a.m. Friday. Fire activity moderated due to the decrease in winds over the fire. The fire continued to back in areas where it had not been tied into control lines. The fire remains a threat to critical infrastructure. Islands of unburned fuel will continue to burn within the fire footprint.”
Ventura County fire inspectors determined that 132 structures had been destroyed and 88 were damaged, officials said Thursday evening.
Approximately 10,800 electrical customers in the county were experiencing an outage as of Thursday evening, officials said. Southern California Edison established resource centers for the public at the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center in Moorpark, Simi Valley Senior Center located at 3900 Avenida Simi and the Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 Harbor Blvd.
Cal Fire provided these road closures:
Ventura County Sheriff jurisdiction:
— Crestview Northbound at Bella Vista;
— Las Posas Northbound at Lewis;
— Aprisa Northbound at Ponderosa;
— Waters Road from Stockton.
California Highway Patrol jurisdiction:
— Santa Clara Eastbound from the 118;
— Balcom Westbound from the 118.
Ventura County Public Works jurisdiction:
— East Road from Posita Road to Stockton Road;
— Posita Road from Balcom Canyon Road to East Road;
— Shekell Road from Broadway Road o CA-23;
— Central Avenue from Rose Avenue to Santa Clara Avenue;
— Valley Vista Drive from Fairway Drive to Crestview Drive;
— Fairway Drive from Fairway Court to Valley Vista Drive;
— Center School Road from CA-118 to Fairway Drive;
— Clubhouse Drive from Los Angeles Avenue to Northridge Drive;
— La Cumbre Road from CA-118 to Donlon Road;
— Donlon Road from CA-118 to Bradley Road;
— Stockton Road from Balcom Canyon Road to Grimes Canyon Road;
— La Vista Avenue from CA-118 to W. La Loma Avenue;
— Price Road from CA-118 to E. La Loma Avenue;
— Aggen Road from CA-118 to La Loma Road;
— Berylwood Road from Bradley Road to Aggen Road;
— Bradley Road from Old Balcom Canyon Road to Berylwood Road.
Officials also said additional closures included northbound Lewis Road at Las Posas, eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road and westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Road were closed. In unincorporated Somis, roads were closed west to Saticoy Country Club, east to Balcom Canyon Road and south to Highway 118.
Ventura County sheriff’s officials said 10 minor injuries have been reported as a result of the blaze, most involving smoke inhalation.
Cal Fire reported five firefighters and one civilian suffering injuries.
Authorities ordered about 10,000 people to evacuate. Shelters were opened at Padre Parish, 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo; for large animals at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 E. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, and the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara; and for small animals at the Camarillo Airport, 600 Aviation Drive.
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced Wednesday nearly 100 of its firefighters were battling the blaze, along with fire personnel from Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica.
The Glendale and Riverside fire departments also sent personnel to the fire lines, while the Angeles National Forest sent two engine strike teams, two hotshot crews, two helicopters and several fixed-wing aircraft.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that the state had secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help fund the firefight. On Thursday, the fire prompted Newsom to proclaim a state of emergency in Ventura County.
More than 2,400 personnel were assigned to the firefight — 378 engines, 34 hand crews and 14 helicopters, according to Cal Fire.
“This is a dangerous fire that’s spreading quickly and is threatening lives,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has mobilized state resources, including personnel, engines and aircraft from Cal Fire and Cal OES, to protect communities as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat this fire. Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue.”
Authorities said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Updated Nov. 8, 2024, 1:25 p.m.
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