Crews get break from wind, expand containment of Mountain Fire to 14%
Posted on 11/09/2024
Mild winds proved to be a major boon to firefighters battling the Mountain Fire in Ventura County Friday.
The fire, which has destroyed more than 130 homes across its 20,600 perimeter, was mostly kept in check Thursday night through Friday, with firefighters able to battle the blaze from the air late into the evening.
The Mountain Fire has been driven by Santa Ana winds, causing widespread catastrophic damage and leaving dozens without a home and hundreds more displaced.
The break from the whipping winds allowed crews to build up containment lines and fly through the night. Containment was 7% as of Friday morning, officials said, but by 6 p.m., containment had doubled to 14%.
Six injuries have been reported so far, five involving civilians and one involving a firefighter.
“The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain, with dry and receptive fuels, which have challenged containment efforts,” Cal Fire said in a status update Friday. “Fire activity moderated due to the decrease in winds over the fire. The fire continued to back in areas where it had not been tied into control lines.”
Damage inspection crews announced on Thursday that 132 homes had been destroyed in the fire, and that number is expected to increase as inspection crews continue their work Friday.
Among the losses was a mid-century home that belonged to the Wallace family for more than 60 years.
“Yesterday, we watched for three hours as it burned,” Tara Wallace, who lives in Camarillo Heights with her husband Brian Wallace, told KTLA. “It was a beautiful home with a beautiful view of a beautiful city, and now it is ash.”
Evacuation orders remain in place for more than 10,000 residents. A complete list of evacuation orders and zones can be found on vcemergency.com. An evacuation center has been opened at Padre Serra Parish on 5205 Upland Rd. in Camarillo.
Ventura County Animal Services is currently housing dozens of displaced animals, including 80 ducks that were brought to the Camarillo campus Thursday. Several stray pets have shown up at its shelters and evacuated residents were urged to contact Animal Services to bring them home.
On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency due to the Mountain Fire and announced that FEMA approved a grant to support the firefight.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A Mountain Fire information hotline is available by calling 805-465-6650.
The fire, which has destroyed more than 130 homes across its 20,600 perimeter, was mostly kept in check Thursday night through Friday, with firefighters able to battle the blaze from the air late into the evening.
The Mountain Fire has been driven by Santa Ana winds, causing widespread catastrophic damage and leaving dozens without a home and hundreds more displaced.
The break from the whipping winds allowed crews to build up containment lines and fly through the night. Containment was 7% as of Friday morning, officials said, but by 6 p.m., containment had doubled to 14%.
Six injuries have been reported so far, five involving civilians and one involving a firefighter.
“The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain, with dry and receptive fuels, which have challenged containment efforts,” Cal Fire said in a status update Friday. “Fire activity moderated due to the decrease in winds over the fire. The fire continued to back in areas where it had not been tied into control lines.”
Damage inspection crews announced on Thursday that 132 homes had been destroyed in the fire, and that number is expected to increase as inspection crews continue their work Friday.
Among the losses was a mid-century home that belonged to the Wallace family for more than 60 years.
“Yesterday, we watched for three hours as it burned,” Tara Wallace, who lives in Camarillo Heights with her husband Brian Wallace, told KTLA. “It was a beautiful home with a beautiful view of a beautiful city, and now it is ash.”
Evacuation orders remain in place for more than 10,000 residents. A complete list of evacuation orders and zones can be found on vcemergency.com. An evacuation center has been opened at Padre Serra Parish on 5205 Upland Rd. in Camarillo.
Ventura County Animal Services is currently housing dozens of displaced animals, including 80 ducks that were brought to the Camarillo campus Thursday. Several stray pets have shown up at its shelters and evacuated residents were urged to contact Animal Services to bring them home.
On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency due to the Mountain Fire and announced that FEMA approved a grant to support the firefight.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A Mountain Fire information hotline is available by calling 805-465-6650.
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