Nov 07, 2024, 8:07 AM GMT
Camarillo man's home of nearly 40 years destroyed in Mountain Fire
Steve Taylor's Camarillo home that he's owned for nearly 40 years is now a pile of ashes and debris after it was destroyed in the Mountain Fire.
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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.
Key Headlines
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Here's how the news is developing.
Nov 08, 2024, 12:25 AM
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, 3:19 AM GMT
FEMA funds granted to support response to Mountain Fire
California secured federal assistance from FEMA after a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom was granted.
"This is a dangerous fire that's spreading quickly and threatening lives," Newsom said in a statement. "State resources have been mobilized to protect communities, and this federal support from the Biden-Harris Administration will give state and local firefighters the resources they need to save lives and property as they continue battling this aggressive fire."
Nov 07, 2024, 1:27 AM GMT
Father and son save homes from fire using shovel, garden hose
Steve Abel and his son Erik stayed behind in their Moorpark neighborhood, against the evacuation orders. They know authorities do not advise this, but they wanted to take matters into their own hands.
They said they did what they could with shovels and a garden hose to keep the fire from destroying several homes near Green Tree Drive. Steve got so close to the flames, that embers burned holes straight through his flannel shirt.
"All three of these houses would be gone if we weren't here," Erik said.
Nov 07, 2024, 1:08 AM GMT
Young couple's home destroyed by fire 1 year after moving in
Dozens of homes were decimated by the massive Mountain Fire in Ventura County.
Eyewitness News reporter Sophie Flay was reporting along Garrido Drive in the Las Posas Estates neighborhood, where several homes were scorched, including one that had completely burned to the ground.
Neighbors say a young couple had just moved into the home about a year ago. Now, all that's left standing is their mail box and some remnants of the fireplace.
