Firefighters battling the 14,500-acre Mountain fire in Ventura County focused on the northeast portion of the blaze on Thursday, Nov. 7, a rugged backcountry area where the flames were backing up along the Highway 118 corridor toward Moorpark.
The fire, pushed by gusty, dry Santa Ana winds from the desert, had been pushing to the southwest after its ignition on Wednesday, plowing through agricultural areas and gobbling up dozens of homes in the more developed areas.
Bulldozers, hose lines, water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes were attacking the northeast flank in the Santa Susana Mountains, west of Grimes Canyon, in an effort to protect Moorpark, a city of 35,000 residents.
Officials did not say there was an immediate threat to the city.
New evacuation warnings were put in effect for Santa Paula, fire officials said at a morning news conference Thursday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. No evacuations have been lifted.
“The fire danger remains extremely high,” Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said.
The fire remained at 0% contained. Containment is the percentage of the fire that is surrounded by manmade and natural fire breaks that officials believe the flames will not jump.
But winds of 25 to 35 mph with higher gusts have been delivering embers more than two miles ahead of the fire, and the flames have found receptive hosts in thick, dry brush.
“When you have high wind, it challenges our tactical opportunities,” said Drew Smith, a fire behavior analyst with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters are expected to receive a break Thursday night when the winds subside, at least for the weekend. And normal high temperatures for this time of year, in the 70s, are forecast, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Thompson. A new round of Santa Anas was possible early next week.
“What this means is, you’ve got to be prepared (to evacuate),” Ventura County Fire Capt. Trevor Johnson said.
Thompson said the Santa Ana winds for the time being would be replaced by winds from the Pacific Ocean.
Tips on making an evacuation plan are available at readyforwildfire.org.
Ten damage-assessment crews fanned out Thursday to count the homes and other structures damaged or destroyed. Officials on Thursday did not have even a ballpark estimate of the numbers.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. The point of origin was pinned as Bradley and Balcom Canyon roads between Somis and Santa Paula.
Sheriff Fryhoff said there have been no reports of looting.
The fire grew by more than 300 acres overnight Wednesday. Dozens of homes burned, The Associated Press reported. Two residents were hospitalized to be checked for smoke inhalation, Fryhoff said.
Firefighters responded to the blaze on South Mountain near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon and Bradley roads, north of the 118 Freeway and southeast of Santa Paula, at 9:23 a.m. Wednesday, the Fire Department said, .
Residents are encouraged to visit VCEmergency.com for the most current evacuation information. An evacuation center is set up at Padre Serra Parrish at 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo. A large animal evacuation center is at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. A public hotline has been established by the Office of Emergency Services. Affected residents can call 805-465-6650 for assistance.