Live updates: At least 132 structures destroyed by Mountain Fire in Ventura County
ByABC7.com staff
Last updated: Saturday, November 9, 2024 3:42PM GMT
CAMARILLO, Calif. (KABC) -- Thousands of residents were forced to flee a fast-moving wildfire, called the Mountain Fire, as it consumed dozens of homes in several Ventura County communities.
The Mountain Fire stood at 20,638 acres as of Friday evening, with 14% containment, Cal Fire said. The blaze is now moving toward the communities of Santa Paula and Somis after destroying parts of Camarillo. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The out-of-control brush fire broke out near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road at approximately 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The fire department initially described the incident as a two-alarm fire that burned 250 acres, but it quickly exploded due to the strong Santa Ana winds and dry brush in the region.
Mountain Fire in Moorpark evacuations, road closures, evacuation shelter
Evacuation orders:
Zone 1 - North of Somis: areas north of East Los Angeles Avenue/Hwy 118, west of Balcom Canyon Road, and east of La Vista Avenue
Zone 2 - Saticoy Country Club: east of Los Angeles Ave/Hwy 118, and south of the Santa Clara River and north of Beardsley Road
Zone 3 - Areas south of Hwy 118, west of N. Lewis Road, north of North Loop Drive and Mission Drive, and east of Fairway Drive
Zone 4 - West Camarillo (Las Posas/Spanish Hills areas): north of Las Posas Road, south and east of Central Avenue and Beardsley Road, and west of Anacapa Drive
Zone 6 - The area extending south of Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road
Zone 8 - An area extending south of South Mountain Road, east of Briggs Road, and west of 12th Street and Bixby Road
Zone 9 - The area east of Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north along Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road at Sespe Street, south to Bixby Road
Zone 10 - An area extending east of 12th Street to Willard Road, south of HWY 126 along Santa Clara River
Zone 11 - South of the Santa Clara River, north of the ridge bottom of South Mountain at the rock quarry, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Cayetano Street
Zone 12 - The area north of Los Angeles Avenue, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Caytano Street, south of the ridge bottom of South Mountain at the rock quarry
Unincorporated Somis: West to Saticoy Country Club, east to Balcom Canyon Road, south to Highway 118.
Evacuation warnings:
Zone 7 - The area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue, and south of Central Avenue
Road closures:
Northbound Lewis Road at Las Posas
Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road
Stockton Road between Waters and Balcom Canyon
Temporary evacuation shelter: Padre Serra Parish 5205 Upland Road Camarillo, CA 93012
Large animal evacuation center: The Ventura County Fairgrounds are at full capacity and will not be able to take any more large animals that were evacuated. If someone has a horse or livestock that needs to be evacuated, call Ventura County Animal Services main number at 805 388-4341 to get details on an alternate location to board them.
Small animal evacuation center: Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport) 600 Aviation Drive Camarillo, 93010
Fire information hotline: 805-465-6650
Nov 07, 2024, 1:35 AM GMT
4pm briefing: 0% containment, unsafe conditions to assess damage
During the 4pm press conference, fire officials gave these updates:
- Fire is 0% contained - There is no accurate number of structures damaged or destroyed currently because it's unsafe to access the area. They expect to start counting Thursday. - Two people were taken to an area hospital for smoke inhalation. Their condition was unknown. - The fire moved dangerously fast, spotting more than 2.5 miles out ahead of itself - Fire is currently under investigation - Fire is burning southwest to the Highway 101 corridor
Ventura County Fire Capt. Trevor Johnson said when firefighters arrived, they had to pull people out of their houses to save lives right off the bat.
Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said thousands of residents were told to evacuate, with authorities going door to door knocking as well as driving down the streets with sirens on. He said they always have people reluctant to leave, adding that they will not force them to leave.
Camarillo neighborhood near Old Coach Drive looks 'bombed out'
Aerial coverage from AIR7 shows an estimated 40-50 homes in Camarillo damaged or destroyed by the Mountain Fire.
Aerial coverage from AIR7 shows a stunning picture of devastation, with what looks like 40 or more homes in Camarillo destroyed by flames.
Entire neighborhoods, many of them featuring multimillion-dollar luxury homes, were razed to the ground as powerful winds drove the Mountain Fire, which spread to more than 10,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon.
Homes near Old Coach Drive, Goldenspur Drive and Garrido Drive were caught in the firestorm.
AIR7 reporter Chris Cristi described the scene left behind like a war zone.
An aerial view of a Camarillo neighborhood shows the devastation left behind as a wildfire swept through the area driven by strong winds.
Nov 06, 2024, 10:45 PM GMT
Mountain Fire explodes to more than 10,000 acres
Just before 2:45 p.m., Cal Fire updated the Mountain Fire acreage to 10,458 acres.
Nov 06, 2024, 10:35 PM GMT
Audio released of first responders' call: 'We've got to get ahead of it'
ABC7 obtained audio of a call for help from firefighters during Wednesday's fire near Moorpark.
"We need to make all necessary notifications ... but all available engines and support companies up in the Camarillo Heights area ... we've got to get ahead of it."
"The fire has crossed the 118 ... now getting on the south of the 118 ... it has large potential to affect the Camarillo Heights area," one firefighter is heard saying.
"We need to make all necessary notifications ... but all available engines and support companies up in the Camarillo Heights area ... we've got to get ahead of it."
