Mountain Fire burns toward Santa Paula after decimating Camarillo area

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Last updated: Thursday, November 7, 2024, 5:43 p.m. GMT

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CAMARILLO, Calif. (KABC) — Thousands of residents were forced to flee a fast-spreading wildfire called the Mountain Fire that destroyed dozens of homes in several Ventura County communities.

The out-of-control brush fire broke out around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road. Fire officials initially described the incident as a two-alarm fire that burned 250 acres, but it quickly exploded and has since burned more than 14,000 acres.

At one point the fire jumped onto Highway 118 and began burning southwest toward the “Highway 101 Corridor.” Flames spread overnight, spreading to the Santa Paula area.

Important headlines

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Mountain fire in Moorpark, evacuations, road closures, evacuation shelter

Evacuation orders:

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 Highway 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 extends south of the Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of the Saticoy County Club and west of Briggs Road
Zone 7 – The area north of Highway 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue and south of Central Avenue
Zone 9 – The area east of the Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north along the Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road at Sespe Street, south of Bixby Road

Zone 10 – An area extending east of 12th Street to Willard Road, south of HWY 126 along the Santa Clara River

Unincorporated Somis: West to Saticoy Country Club, east to Balcom Canyon Road, south to Highway 118.

Evacuation warnings:

Zone 8 – An area extending south of South Mountain Road, east of Briggs Road and west of 12th Street and Bixby Road

Road closures:

Lewis Road north at Las Posas
Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road

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

Large animal evacuation center:
Ventura County Fairgrounds (Shoreline Gate)
10 E. Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001

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

Fire alarm hotline:
805-465-6650

AIR7 counts 83 destroyed homes in Camarillo Heights

Dozens of homes were destroyed by the massive mountain fire in Ventura County.

AIR7’s Scott Reiff surveyed the damage Thursday morning and counted 83 homes destroyed in the Camarillo Heights area. Almost all the houses along Santa Cruz were destroyed by the flames.

AIR7’s Scott Reiff surveyed the damage Thursday morning and counted 83 homes destroyed in the Camarillo Heights area.

Latest Mountain Fire school closures

Several schools in Ventura County are closed due to the mountain fire.

All schools in the Santa Paula Unified School District and Mesa Union School District, as well as ACE Charter High School, will remain closed on Thursdays and Fridays.

The Briggs School District, Hueneme Elementary School District and Oxnard School District will also close schools on Thursday.

Further school closures due to the fire can be found here.

A Camarillo man’s home of nearly 40 years was destroyed in a mountain fire

Steve Taylor’s Camarillo home, which he has owned for nearly 40 years, is a pile of ash and rubble after being destroyed by the mountain fire.

FEMA funding to support the mountain fire response

California secured federal aid from FEMA after a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom was approved.

“This is a dangerous fire that is spreading rapidly and threatening lives,” Newsom said in a statement. “State resources have been mobilized to protect communities, and this federal support from the Biden-Harris Administration will give state and local firefighters the resources they need to save lives and property as they continue to fight this aggressive fire.” fight.”