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
The fast-moving Mountain Fire moved through Camarillo on Wednesday and destroyed dozens of homes.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show a part of a neighborhood before the wildfire swept through the area and the destruction after the flames destroyed homes.
The Santa Ana winds that drove the fire expected to subside by late Friday morning.
A red-flag warning expired at 11 a.m., but firefighters still have a long way to go.
According to CAL FIRE, the blaze is burning in steep, rugged terrain, with dry and receptive fuels, which they say have challenged containment efforts.
Though the winds began diminishing, the fire continued to back in areas where it hadn't been tied into control lines, CAL FIRE said.
The Santa Anas are expected to return early-to-midweek next week, according to the National Weather Service.
We're getting a better look at how the destructive Mountain Fire in Ventura County was able to spread so quickly and easily.
A 3D map of the fire area shows where the fire started near Moorpark. Hot embers were able to be carried by the wind for three miles, allowing the flames to the jump the 118 Freeway. That's when the the fire made its way into more densely populated neighborhoods in Camarillo.
While you can't stop the spread of embers, there are other steps you can take to help protect your home. During red flag warning days, experts say small improvements to weak points around your home, such as vents and garage doors, could make a significant difference.
"When you leave for the day, close the windows in the house. Do things so that your house isn't so open and available and porous to wind or embers, or other issues that might present themselves during the day," said Yana Valachovic with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Some Camarillo residents are offering their support to those who lost their homes in the Mountain Fire.
Peter Nichols told Eyewitness News though he's grateful he still has his home, he has great empathy for his friends whose homes were destroyed.
"Nobody knew anything about our house, whether it was still here or not," he said. "From the top of the street, we could see the roof of this house. It's just overwhelming. I cried like a baby. My wife and I hugged."
Many said the Mountain Fire reminds them of the the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which killed three people and destroyed 1,600 homes.
