The Mountain Fire in Ventura County, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, has rapidly expanded to 14,500 acres with firefighters struggling to achieve containment against the elements. Evacuation orders have been issued across several zones, urging residents to seek safety immediately as the fire threatens life and property, according to the Ventura County Incident Information Source.
With winds clocking at treacherous speeds, firefighting efforts overnight have faced considerable challenges, encountering not only the natural force of the wind but its dire consequences, such as power outages affecting areas including Monte Vista and Las Posas Schools. As reported by CBS News Los Angeles, the fire's progression compelled more than 10,000 people to evacuate and has injured several requiring hospitalizations. Details on their conditions have not been disclosed.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has secured federal assistance from FEMA to support the ongoing response to this disaster. In terms of infrastructure impact, hard road closures are in effect, particularly impacting SR-118 at Tierra Rejada and Wells Road, as well as Balcom Canyon Road at Stockton and Las Posas at Lewis, per statements from the Ventura County Fire Department.
The affected community spans across zones with mandatory evacuations issued for areas like North of Somis and West Camarillo (Las Posas/Spanish Hills areas), with others, like Zone 8 – South Mountain Road, Briggs Road, and east of 12th Street and Bixby Road, under evacuation warnings. Shelters have been established at Padre Serra Parish for humans, Ventura County Fairgrounds for large animals, and Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport) for small pets. "Our No. 1 priority here at Ventura County Fire, in running this incident, is life safety," firefighter Andrew Dowd told CBS News Los Angeles. "And we're urging all residents that are in the affected areas to make sure that they're heeding evacuation orders. That's our No. 1 priority."
Amid the chaos and smoke, residents have been forced to set their lives into hurried motion in the face of approaching flames. Ken Levin, one such resident from the Spanish Hills area, remarked to CBS News Los Angeles amid his evacuation, "We've never seen anything like this before. Never thought anything like this would happen to us," said Ken Levin, "But fire department is out there, they're bulldozing fire breaks on the back of our property and the wind is going south. So, we feel good about where we are. ... I think we're gonna be okay. Thank God for our firefighters that are here to help us when we need it."
