Residents of Ventura County were forced to evacuate on Tuesday after a wildfire, dubbed the Apache Fire, rapidly spread across 250 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. As reported by KTLA, the fire started around 8:30 p.m. near Apache Canyon Road, east of Highway 33. Initially posing no threat to structures, the situation quickly escalated, prompting the Ventura County Fire Department to issue evacuation warnings as the flames grew closer to homes.
#ApacheFire; Update, fire is estimated to be 250 acres, Apache Canyon has been evacuated by @VENTURASHERIFF. @LosPadresNF is in unified command with @VCFD and resources will be working the fire throughout the night trying to keep the fire within Apache Canyon. @CountyVentura… pic.twitter.com/CeoA4LQgtD
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) July 24, 2024
The blaze's growth was swift, reaching 250 acres by 10 p.m., with firefighters working to contain the fire within Apache Canyon, aiming to prevent further spread. According to the VCFD PIO, "#ApacheFire; Update, fire is estimated to be 250 acres, Apache Canyon has been evacuated". Efforts from both the Ventura County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service converged, launching a nocturnal battle against the encroaching flames with helicopters and air tankers assisting from above.
As per ABC7, evacuation orders were issued following the fire's expansion, and as of late Tuesday night, the fire remained at 0% containment.
