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Live updates: Newsom declares state of emergency for Ventura County due to Mountain Fire

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Last updated: Friday, November 8, 2024 1:05AM GMT
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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 grew to 20,400 acres by Thursday afternoon, with no 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.

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

Rob Hayes Image
Nov 07, 2024, 11:18 PM GMT

Man describes escaping fire, but losing mother's memories

Emotions were running high at Father Serra Parish, one of the shelter locations available for the thousands of evacuated residents, with some saying they barely escaped the flames but found out their home burned down.

There were 125 people at Father Serra Parish overnight, but many of those evacuees took their kids to school in the morning, and then headed to work.

"This is the clothes I walked out in, that's it, and with my phone and car keys, nothing else," said Sayeed Sikder.

Emotions were running high at Father Serra Parish, with some evacuees saying they barely escaped the flames but found out their home burned down.

Sikder shared that losing his home is even more devastating because his mother died a year ago.

"All of her memories - gone ... every single piece gone," he said.

Dave Wagner with the American Red Cross said they have had entire families stay at the shelter.

"They're in tears. They know they've lost their homes. Some of them have lost some pets, so it's very emotional," he said.

Nov 07, 2024, 8:26 PM GMT

Santa Ana winds will return next week

Santa Ana winds are expected to return to Southern California next week, bringing another round of red flag warnings and heightened wildfire danger.

Ventura County Fire Capt. Trevor Johnson said everyone is preparing for it.

"Our goal is to not only take care of all the community out here but bring stabilization to this incident so that we can free up resources and be ready for the next fire," he said.

Johnson said the Mountain Fire is not a full capacity staffing, which allows crews to be ready to battle another fire if one should break out.

"If another incident were to arise, we're fully prepared to handle that incident as well," he said.

Nov 07, 2024, 8:28 PM GMT

Fire chief addresses reports that crews ran out of water

Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner addressed reports that crews ran out of water Wednesday night. Gardner explained crews at a lower elevation did have water and were able to shuttle water up to crews.

"It's a normal operation, running out of water," he explained during a news conference Thursday. "I don't want to say it's abnormal, but it's normal enough that we plan for it. So it's impactful, but it will be mitigated."

Garnder said hundreds of fire trucks were on the front lines Wednesday night and were pumping water all night.

"We have been fighting the fire for 26 hours, and we had all of those fire trucks hooked up to all of those hydrants, and we drained water systems down," he said.

Gardner said the county and Cal OES teams work to make sure all the water resources are ready to go.

Sid Garcia Image
Nov 07, 2024, 9:01 PM GMT

CHP officer's family of 6 loses home; patrol SUV charred

CHP Officer Gregory Bowcock's family lost their home in the Mountain Fire. The family of six grabbed what they could and fled as the flames raced uphill toward their home.

CHP Officer Gregory Bowcock's family lost their home in the Mountain Fire. The family of six grabbed what they could and fled as the flames raced uphill toward their home.

Officer Bowcock's work SUV was completely charred, and his home was burned to the ground. Four generations of his family had lived in that house.

The family's church community helped them find an Airbnb to stay in temporarily.

Bowcock's son Mac helped make sure his siblings were safe.

"I was running around grabbing things that we need and im trying to get the kids safe because I don't want to lose them, because well, they're my brothers and sisters, so I don't want to lose them...I miss our house, but it's better that we still have our lives," Mac said.

Thursday is Officer Bowcock's birthday.