Southern California wildfire/ Mountain Fire/ Ventura County fire/ Santa Ana winds/ evacuation orders/ fire containment/ Gavin Newsom/ Newslooks/ CAMARILLO/ Calif./ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Firefighters in Southern California are working to contain the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, which has destroyed 132 structures and damaged 88 more. The fire, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, forced evacuations for 10,000 residents as it threatened nearly 3,500 additional structures. With winds expected to ease, firefighters hope to gain ground on containment, though red flag warnings remain in effect in some areas.
“Southern California’s Mountain Fire Destruction Quick Looks”
- Widespread Destruction: The Mountain Fire has destroyed 132 structures and damaged at least 88 others near Camarillo, California.
- Evacuations and Threats: Some 10,000 residents are under evacuation orders, with 3,500 structures still at risk.
- Santa Ana Winds Drive Spread: High winds fueled the fire’s rapid growth, though winds are expected to ease Friday morning.
- State of Emergency Declared: Governor Gavin Newsom issued an emergency declaration for Ventura County.
- Utility Shutdowns Amid Fire Risk: Southern California Edison shut off power to prevent sparks, affecting 70,000 customers across five counties.
Southern California Wildfire Destroys Over 130 Structures as Winds Ease
Deep Look
Firefighters in Southern California are battling the Mountain Fire, a destructive wildfire that has swept through Ventura County since Wednesday morning, destroying 132 structures and damaging at least 88 more. The fire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, has prompted mandatory evacuation orders for 10,000 residents, while continuing to threaten about 3,500 structures across suburban, ranch, and agricultural areas around Camarillo.
The wildfire, covering approximately 32 square miles (83 square kilometers) with only 5% containment as of Thursday night, has severely impacted neighborhoods around Camarillo. Among those affected is Joey Parish, who returned to find his Camarillo Heights home of over 20 years reduced to a steel frame. “It’s tough, really tough to process the emotions,” Parish told KNBC-TV, explaining that he and his family left with only a few belongings, not even a phone charger.
In addition to structural damage, 10 people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, primarily from smoke inhalation, according to Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff. Crews working in steep terrain, supported by water-dropping helicopters, are prioritizing the protection of homes along hillsides on the fire’s northeast edge, near Santa Paula, a city of more than 30,000 residents.
The Mountain Fire’s rapid spread underscores the threat posed by Southern California’s notorious Santa Ana winds, which often bring dry, gusty air from the inland areas toward the coast during fall and winter, heightening wildfire risks. Ariel Cohen, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard, reported that while the winds have begun to ease at lower elevations, they remain gusty in higher areas. Red flag warnings, signifying high fire risk, expired across most of the affected region by Friday morning, though they remain in place in the Santa Susana Mountains.
The Mountain Fire has reignited memories of other catastrophic fires that have plagued this part of California in recent years, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which killed three people and destroyed 1,600 homes, and the 2017 Thomas Fire, which ravaged Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Southern California Edison, the utility provider implicated in both previous fires, has paid substantial settlements for damage caused by its equipment. In response to current fire risks, the utility shut off power to 70,000 customers in five counties, though it has not confirmed whether the Mountain Fire area was affected by these preemptive shutdowns.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Ventura County as firefighters continue to battle the Mountain Fire. California’s utilities now regularly shut down power in high-wind conditions to reduce fire risks, a practice adopted after a series of deadly and destructive fires caused by faulty electrical infrastructure.
As winds are expected to subside, fire crews hope for favorable conditions to slow the blaze’s spread. However, the Santa Ana winds may return as early as next week, raising concerns for renewed fire dangers. In the meantime, the focus remains on protecting lives and property, with additional fire crews on standby to support containment efforts as Ventura County residents brace for the long recovery process ahead.
