A fast-moving brush fire in the Somis/Camarillo area of Ventura County has destroyed at least a dozen homes and, according to officials, charred more than 14,000 acres as of Wednesday evening.
The Mountain Fire was reported just before 9 a.m. near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road, north of the 118 Freeway. By 11 a.m., flames had crossed the 118 Freeway and were sweeping through homes in the Camarillo Heights neighborhood. Residents were ordered to evacuate, and many struggled to escape with not only their property but large animals, including horses.
The Ventura County Fire Department said at least 800 firefighters were battling the blaze, which was fueled by dry Santa Ana winds.
Damage estimates are expected tomorrow morning, with officials adding on X, formerly Twitter, that “Firefighting operations continue through the night with both ground resources and night flying helicopters. Hundreds of mutual aid firefighters continue to arrive on scene from throughout California.”
There was no containment as of 11:30 p.m. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Ventura County authorities said “several individuals” were injured and transported to local hospitals.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the Somis and Camarillo areas. An evacuation center was established at Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Ave., in Camarillo. Large animals could be brought to the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 E. Harbor Blvd. Smaller animals can be taken to Ventura County Animal Services at the Camarillo Airport, 600 Aviation Drive. For more information on evacuations, visit vcemergency.com or call 805-465-6650.
FREE N95 MASKS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THURSDAY
Lily Dallow
Direct Relief, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit, announced it will be distributing free N95 masks on Thursday for residents of Ventura County.
The humanitarian aid organization will hand out up to two masks per person at the Ventura Family YMCA located at 3760 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA 93003 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
UPDATED EVACUATION ORDERS
jdubose
In an update at 6:31 p.m., officials with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department added additional mandatory evacuations for zone 9.
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 Hwy 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 extending south of Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road
Zone 7 – The area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue, and south of Central Avenue
Zone 9 – The area east of Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north along Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road at Sespe Street, south to Bixby Road
10 hours ago
SCHOOL AND DISTRICT CLOSURES
Lily Dallow
The Ventura County Office of Education announced the following school and district closures due to the Mountain Fire:
For Thursday and Friday, Nov. 7-8:
ACE Charter High School
Mesa Union School District (all locations)
Santa Paula Unified School District (all locations)
For Thursday, Nov. 7:
Bridges Charter School
Briggs School District (all locations)
Campus Canyon Elementary (Moorpark USD)
CAPE Charter School
Chaparral Middle School (Moorpark USD)
Golden Valley Charter School Resource Center
High School at Moorpark College (Moorpark USD)
Hueneme Elementary School District
Ivy Tech Charter School Resource Center
MATES Charter School
Mupu Elementary School District
Oxnard School District (K-8)
Oxnard Union High School District
Peach Hill Elementary (Moorpark USD)
Peak Prep Academy Resource Center
Pleasant Valley School District (all locations)
Rio School District (all locations)
River Oaks Academy Resource Centers (Oxnard & Westlake)
Santa Clara Elementary School District (all locations)
Somis Union School District (all locations)
University Preparation Charter School
Ventura Charter School
Ventura Unified School District (all locations)
Vista Real Charter High School (all locations)
The office said that a continually updated list of Ventura County school closures is available at
WIND-DRIVEN EMBERS REMAIN
jdubose
Wind and flying embers from the flames continue to be a major problem with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour kicking up sparks that can be carried as far as two miles ahead of the firefight and start additional spot fires, officials in Ventura County told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe.
FEMA ASSISTANCE GRANTED FOR MOUNTAIN FIRE
jdubose
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal funds will be used to assist in combating the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, which has burned countless homes, some 10,400 acres and remains 0% contained.
The fire management assistance grant can provide federal funding for up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs, including for equipment use, materials, supplies and creating field camps, the agency said in an afternoon news release.
12 hours ago
PROPERTY DEVASTATION
jdubose
KTLA’s Sara Welch reports from Estaban Drive in Camarillo Heights where the Mountain Fire has devastated the region, destroying countless homes and leaving a stark scene of burnt out vehicles, rubble and ash.
FIRE PERIMETER
Marc Sternfield
CAL FIRE has released this map of the Mountain Fire perimeter and evacuation zones as of 4:30 p.m.
4PM NEWS CONFERENCE
Marc Sternfield
Incident commanders in Ventura County just updated the media and public on the battle against the 10,000-acre Mountain Fire.
A PERSONAL BATTLE
Marc Sternfield
An incident commander told KTLA’s Sara Welch that two firefighters battling the Mountain Fire have lost their home in the blaze.
EVACUATION ORDERS
The following evacuation orders are in effect:
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 Hwy 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 extending south of Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Avenue, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road
Zone 7 – The area north of Hwy 101 and south and east of Beardsley Avenue, and south of Central Avenue
13 hours ago
HORSES EVACUATED
Marc Sternfield
“At the time, you’re thinking, ‘If it goes, it goes.’ You can’t really do anything about it,” said Jane Healy of Somis, who just returned to her property after evacuating with her horses.
UPDATED SIZE
Marc Sternfield
The Mountain Fire has grown to an estimated 10,431 acres as of 2:45 p.m. Wednesday.
EVACUATED ANIMALS
Marc Sternfield
Ventura County Animal Services says it has 95 animals in “safekeeping.” Large animals can go to the VC Fairgrounds. Small domestic animals can go to the Camarillo Shelter.
9,000 ACRES
Marc Sternfield
Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, Ventura County incident commanders said the Mountain Fire was mapped at 9,000 acres. An unknown number of homes have been destroyed.
NEWSOM STATEMENT
Marc Sternfield
” State officials are actively responding to the mountainfire and the severe threat posed to Camarillo Heights,” the governor posted on X.
HOMES DESTROYED
