asane

A young couple’s house was destroyed by fire 1 year after moving

Online Niel November 8, 2024

OfABC7.com staff KABC logo

Last updated: Friday, November 8, 2024, 1:05am GMT

Stream live Southern California news and original shows 24/7

CAMARILLO, Calif. (KABC) — Thousands of residents have been forced to flee a fast-moving wildfire, dubbed the Mountain Fire, that has consumed dozens of homes in several Ventura County communities.

The Mountain Fire had grown to 20,400 acres by Thursday afternoon without containment, Cal Fire said. The fire 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 fire broke out near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The fire department initially described the incident as a two-alarm fire that burned 250 acres, but it quickly blew out due to strong Santa Ana winds and dry brush in the region.

Key titles

Here’s how the news is developing.

Mountain fire in Moorpark evacuations, road closures, evacuation shelter

Evacuation order:

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 the Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of the 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 the Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road on Sespe Street, south of Bixby Road
Area 10 – An area extending east of 12th Street to Willard Road, south of HWY 126 along the Santa Clara River
Area 11 – South of Santa Clara River, North of South Mountain Ridge Bottom, Rock Quarry, West of Grimes Canyon Road, East of San Cayetano Road
Area 12 – The area north of Los Angeles Boulevard, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Caytano Street, south of the bottom of South Mountain Ridge, at the rock quarry

Unincorporated Somis: West to Saticoy Country Club, East to Balcom Canyon Road, South to Highway 118.

Escape warnings:

Zone 7 – Area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue and south of Central Avenue

Road closures:

Lewis Road heading north from Las Posas
Highway 118 eastbound at Wells Road
Highway 118 westbound on Tierra Rejada Street
Stockton Road between Waters and Balcom Canyon

Temporary evacuation shelter:
Padre Serra Parish
5205 Upland Road
Camarillo, CA 93012

Large Animal Evacuation Center:
Ventura County Fairgrounds are at capacity and will no longer be able to accept large animals that have been evacuated.
If anyone has a horse or animal that needs to be evacuated, call the Ventura County Animal Services main line at 805 388-4341 for details on an alternate boarding location.

Small animal evacuation center:
Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport)
600 Aviation Drive
Camarillo, 93010

Fire Information Hotline:
805-465-6650

07 November 2024, 1:08 GMT

A young couple’s house was destroyed by fire 1 year after moving

Neighbors in the Las Posas Estates area say a young couple had just moved into the house about a year ago. Now, all that’s left standing is their mailbox and a few remnants of the fireplace.

Dozens of houses were decimated by the massif Mountain fire in Ventura County.

Eyewitness News reporter Sophie Flay was reporting along Garrido Drive in the Las Posas Estates neighborhood, where several homes were charred, including one that burned completely to the ground.

Neighbors say a young couple had just moved into the house about a year ago. Now, all that’s left standing is their mailbox and a few remnants of the fireplace.

07 November 2024, 2:49 GMT

When will the wind conditions improve?

Wind speeds in the Camarillo area will see a lull between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Thursday, but winds will still be between 20-35 mph during that time, according to ABC7 Chief Meteorologist Dallas Raines. Winds are expected to ease by late afternoon, but a red flag warning will still be in effect.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s forecast.

07 November 2024, 1:32 GMT

Map: Here the mountain fire burns

The Mountain Fire broke out just before 9 a.m. in the area of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road in Somis.

Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, it grew in hours to more than 10,000 acres and destroyed dozens of homes in Camarillo.

Here’s a look at where the mountain fire is burning now.

07 November 2024, 1:35 GMT

16:00 Briefing: 0% containment, unsafe conditions for damage assessment

During the 4:00 p.m. press conference, fire officials provided these updates:

– Fire is 0% limited
– Currently, there is no precise number of damaged or destroyed structures, as access to the area is not safe. Counting is expected to begin on Thursday.
– Two people were taken to an area hospital for smoke inhalation. Their condition was not known.
– The fire moved dangerously fast, spotting more than 2.5 miles ahead
– The fire is currently under investigation
– The fire is burning southwest to the 101 Freeway corridor

Ventura County Fire Captain Trevor Johnson said when firefighters arrived, they had to get people out of homes to save lives immediately.

Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said thousands of residents were asked to evacuate, with authorities knocking door to door and driving through streets with sirens blaring. He said they always have people reluctant to leave, adding that they will not force them to leave.