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.
Evacuation orders:
Evacuation warnings:
Road closures:
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
Several schools in Ventura County are closed because of the Mountain Fire.
All schools in the Santa Paula Unified School District and Mesa Union School District will be closed Thursday and Friday, as well as ACE Charter High School.
Briggs School District, Hueneme Elementary School District and Oxnard School District will also close schools Thursday.
See other school closures due to the fire here.
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.
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."
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.
