Mountain Fire Forces Evacuations in Ventura County

Mountain Fire Forces Evacuations in Ventura County \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Mountain Fire near Los Angeles continued to burn out of control for a second day, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity. The blaze, which started on Wednesday, has destroyed dozens of homes and forced over 10,000 residents to evacuate. Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the fire as winds are expected to subside by evening.

Wildfire Near Los Angeles: Mountain Fire Quick Looks:

• Ongoing Threat: The Mountain Fire raged for a second day, burning over 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) with zero containment.
• Evacuations Ordered: More than 10,000 residents in Ventura County were under mandatory evacuation orders, with 3,500 structures at risk.
• Destruction: Dozens of homes destroyed as firefighters, aided by water-dropping helicopters, worked to protect properties near Santa Paula.
• Winds and Conditions: Santa Ana winds gusted up to 72 mph (116 kph), creating “extreme and life-threatening” fire behavior.
• Personal Losses: Kelly Barton’s parents’ home of 20 years was lost, along with vintage cars; some safes and collectibles were salvaged.
• Fire Response: Over 800 firefighters were on the scene, with more crews arriving. Authorities urged residents to heed evacuation orders as embers sparked spot fires up to 3 miles away.
• Historical Context: The region has experienced similar destructive fires in recent years, including the Woolsey Fire (2018) and the Thomas Fire (2017).
• Power Precautions: Southern California Edison shut off power to nearly 70,000 customers to prevent further fire risks.

Deep Look:

A fierce wildfire named the Mountain Fire burned out of control for a second day northwest of Los Angeles on Thursday, devastating suburban areas, ranches, and agricultural lands in Ventura County. The fire, which ignited around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, forced more than 10,000 residents to evacuate as it rapidly spread, consuming over 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) by Thursday morning. Despite the relentless efforts of over 800 firefighters working under challenging conditions, the blaze remained at zero containment.

The fire’s growth was fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which reached gusts of 72 mph (116 kph) in some areas, combined with critically low humidity levels of around 9%. These conditions created a perfect storm for “extreme and life-threatening” fire behavior, according to the National Weather Service. Although forecasters expected the winds to subside by Thursday evening, humidity levels would remain low, continuing to pose challenges for firefighters.

Chief Dustin Gardner of the Ventura County Fire Department described the intense battle against the flames during a Thursday morning briefing. “It’s been a long 26 hours since this incident started, and it remains dynamic and it remains dangerous,” he said. Fire crews focused their efforts on protecting homes near the northeastern edge of the blaze, particularly in the city of Santa Paula, which has a population of over 30,000. Helicopters dropped water to support ground crews navigating the rugged terrain.

The fire’s destructive path was evident in the experience of Kelly Barton, who watched as firefighters sifted through the remains of her parents’ longtime home in the Camarillo hills. The residence, cherished for its panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, was reduced to ashes. Among the rubble, firefighters managed to recover two safes and her parents’ collection of vintage door knockers. “This was their forever retirement home,” Barton shared, noting the heartbreak of starting anew in their 70s. Her father, who returned shortly after evacuating on Wednesday, discovered the house already in ruins. While he managed to save four of their vintage cars, two others, including a beloved Chevy Nova from his youth, were lost to the flames.

The Mountain Fire’s rapid expansion underscored the critical danger posed by Southern California’s notorious Santa Ana winds, which blow from inland toward the coast, reversing the typical moist onshore flow. These winds, common from fall through early spring, are known for exacerbating wildfire conditions. On Wednesday, aerial footage captured dramatic images of the fire consuming homes and neighborhoods, with embers carried by gusts igniting spot fires as far as 3 miles (5 kilometers) away.

Ventura County officials and first responders emphasized the urgency of evacuation compliance. Deputies contacted approximately 14,000 residents, urging them to leave as embers threatened to ignite new fires in unexpected places. Sharon Boggie, a resident of Santa Paula, described a tense morning as the fire approached within 200 feet (60 meters) of her home. “We thought we were going to lose it at 7 o’clock this morning,” she said. After evacuating with her dogs, she later felt cautiously optimistic as conditions appeared to improve, though white smoke still drifted through the neighborhood.

The impacts of the fire extended beyond immediate danger, as the Ventura County Office of Education announced school closures affecting more than a dozen districts, with some already scheduled to remain closed on Friday. Two individuals were hospitalized for smoke inhalation on Wednesday, but no major injuries among firefighters were reported.

Meanwhile, a smaller fire to the south in Malibu, named the Broad Fire, burned approximately 50 acres (20 hectares) and led to temporary closures of the Pacific Coast Highway. Flames threatened multimillion-dollar properties, and two structures were reported damaged.

California’s utilities have been proactive in recent years, shutting down power during high-risk conditions to prevent wildfires sparked by electrical lines. Southern California Edison reported that power was cut to nearly 70,000 customers across five counties due to elevated fire danger, with more than 250,000 customers at potential risk of outages.

The Mountain Fire burned in a region scarred by recent historic wildfires, such as the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which claimed three lives and destroyed 1,600 homes, and the 2017 Thomas Fire, which affected over 1,000 structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Southern California Edison, implicated in causing those fires, has since settled numerous claims for tens of millions of dollars.

As the situation unfolded, Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, stated that power shutdowns, while inconvenient, are essential for safety during critical fire weather. Details about whether outages affected the specific area of the Mountain Fire were not immediately available.

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