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After a day of dangerous and extreme conditions in Ventura County, firefighters are slowly making progress on the Mountain Fire that has destroyed and damaged more than 200 structures and forced thousands of people to flee.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced: state of emergency Thursday in Ventura County after meeting with first responders.

Flames from the Mountain Fire engulfed a home on Wednesday.

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Etienne Laurent

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AFP via Getty Images

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Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said at a news conference Thursday morning that the fire danger was “extremely high.”

“We want to keep everyone safe, so please avoid the area if you don’t need to be here,” he said. “We are in this together. And we will get through this together.”

Red flag warning fire conditions ended Thursday evening except for the Santa Susana Mountains, where the warning remained in effect until 11 a.m. Friday. But officials also warned that high winds were expected to return early next week.

Conditions this dangerous — stormy, dry and widespread — haven’t been seen since 2020, according to the National Weather Service. Conditions are reminiscent of what we saw in 2018 during the devastating Woolsey Fire, which began almost exactly 6 years ago on November 8th.

Damage from the Mountain Fire in Camarillo.

Mountain Fire basics

The Mountain Fire broke out around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning near Moorpark at Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road. It is currently at 0%.

• Area: 20,596 acres as of Thursday
• Limitation: 5%
• Structures: 88 damaged and 132 destroyed, mostly houses
  • 10 damage assessment teams inspected the ground
  • More than 400 homes were evacuated on Thursday
• Deaths: None
• Injuries: Most of the 10 people were affected by smoke and their injuries are not life-threatening.
• Firefighting personnel: ventura County Fire Department and many other agencies
• Power outages: More than 6,300 Ventura County customers affected

Evacuation map and orders

Evacuation orders have been issued by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for the following areas:

• North of Somis: Areas north of East Los Angeles Boulevard/Hwy 118, west of Balcom Canyon Road, and east of La Vista Boulevard
• Saticoy Country Club: East of Los Angeles Ave/Hwy 118, south of the Santa Clara River and north of Beardsley Road
• Areas south of Hwy 118, west of N. Lewis Road, north of North Loop Drive and Mission Drive, and east of Fairway Drive
• 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
• Area extending south of the Santa Clara River, east of Los Angeles Boulevard, north of Saticoy County Club, and west of Briggs Road
• Area west of the Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north to the Santa Clara River, south to Somis
• Area east of Santa Paula Community Golf Course, north along the Santa Clara River, west of South Mountain Road at Sespe Street, south to Bixby Road
• An area lying east of 12^This Street to Willard Road, south of Highway 126 along the Santa Clara River
• Area south of the Santa Clara River, north of the ridge base of South Mountain, in the rock quarry, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Cayetano Street
• Area north of Los Angeles Boulevard, west of Grimes Canyon Road, east of San Caytano Avenue, south of the ridge base of South Mountain in the rock quarry

Evacuation warnings

Authorities say those who need additional time to evacuate and those who have pets should leave the area immediately.

• Area north of Hwy 101, south and east of Beardsley Boulevard, and south of Central Boulevard (following an evacuation order issued Thursday).

Note: The early evacuation warning for the eastern edge of the City of Ventura, from Petit Road to the city limits, was lifted Wednesday..

evacuation shelters

• Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Road, Camarillo
• Santa Paula Community Center established as a temporary evacuation point, 530 W. Main Street, Santa Paula
• For large animals: Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Gate C, Santa Barbara
  • The Ventura County Fairgrounds is at capacity and will not be accepting any more animals starting Thursday afternoon.
• For small animals: Ventura County Animal Services (Camarillo Airport), 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo

Ventura County residents can pick up free N95 masks at the Ventura Family YMCA, 3760 Telegraph Road, Ventura, from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

school closings

The following Ventura County schools are closed Friday:

• ACE Charter High School
• Briggs School District (all locations)
• Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education (CAPE)
• Golden Valley Charter School
• Hueneme Elementary School District (all locations)
• Ivy Tech Charter School
• Mesa Union School District (all locations)
• Mupu Elementary School District (all locations)
• Oxnard School District (K-8) (all locations)
• Oxnard Union High School District (all locations)
• Summit Preparation Pleasant Valley Learning Center
• Pleasant Valley School District (all locations)
• Rio School District (all locations)
• Santa Clara Elementary School District (all locations)
• Santa Paula Unified School District (all locations)
• Somis Union School District (all locations)
• College Preparatory Charter School at CSU in the Channel Islands
• Ventura Charter School for the Arts and Global Education
• Ventura Unified School District (all locations)
• Vista Real Charter High School (all locations)

The following schools were closed on Thursday:

• ACE Charter High School
• Mesa Union School District (all locations)
• Santa Paula Unified School District (all locations)Bridges Charter School
• Briggs School District (all locations)
• Campus Canyon Elementary School (Moorpark USD)
• CAPE Charter School
• Chaparral Middle School (Moorpark USD)
• Golden Valley Charter School Resource Center
• Moorpark College High School (Moorpark USD)
• Hueneme Elementary School District (all locations)
• Ivy Tech Charter School Resource Center
• MATES Charter School
• Mupu Elementary School District (all locations)
• Oxnard School District K-8 (all locations)
• Oxnard Union High School District (all locations)
• Peach Hill Elementary School (Moorpark USD)
• Zirve Prep Academy Resource Center
• Pleasant Valley School District (all locations)
• Rio School District (all locations)
• River Oaks Academy Resource Centers (Oxnard and Westlake)
• Santa Clara Elementary School District (all locations)
• Somis Union School District (all locations)
• College Preparatory Charter School
• Ventura Charter School
• Ventura Unified School District (all locations)
• Vista Real Charter High School (all locations)

Additionally, all four schools in Malibu were closed Thursday due to hazardous fire conditions, road closures and possible power outages, according to officials. This includes all programs at Webster Elementary School, Malibu Elementary School, Malibu Middle School and Malibu High School. The Malibu Boys and Girls Club was also closed.

Firefighters are on the scene as the Mountain Fire rages in Ventura County on November 6, 2024.

water warnings

An “unsafe water alert” has been issued, meaning it is not safe to drink or boil. Pleasant Valley Mutual Water Company And Crestview Mutual Water Company.

The 180 customers at the peak of the Pleasant Valley system will have no water service until they have access to a backup generator, which is expected Friday. Those customers can bring buckets to the Pleasant Valley Mutual office in the meantime.

Crestview customers, which include all homes in Ramona, La Cresenta, La Patera, Avocado, La Marina, Crestview, Via Zamora, Sereno Place, Valley Vista, Marine View, Vista Del Mar, Fairway Drive and Alviso Drive, can call 805. 482-2001 for more information.

power outages

More than 36,000 households remain without power and Southern California Edison warns of additional power outages public safety power outages, More than 160,000 fires are possible in the region due to high winds and forest fire risks.

What we know so far

The Mountain Fire broke out in the Somis area around 9 a.m. Wednesday, almost immediately prompting mandatory evacuations in Ventura County.

It spanned more than 20,500 acres, jumped Highway 118, and nearly a dozen injuries were reported.

Andrew Dowd, public information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department, told LAist that the fire is active in several different areas — the northeastern perimeter along South Mountain Road, moving into the city of Santa Paula, the Camarillo Heights area, and the Somis area.

“The whole fire is a really significant area of ​​concern because of the winds we have, the weather conditions we have, and not to sound trite,” he said.

Standing on a hill near the temporary evacuation center in Padre Serra Parish, Cheryl Sabato said she evacuated her home in the Somis area early Wednesday morning.

“It was pretty sad,” Sabato told LAist as he watched Camarillo burn below.

“This is crazy. “We experience this every year, but not enough to get over the hill,” he added, surprised that the fire spread to Highway 118.

Helicopters dropped water on flames Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to save hillside homes in Camarillo. Neighborhood residents watched, hoping their homes would be saved.

The Mountain Fire rages in Ventura County on November 6, 2024.

VC Fire has at least six hits on the scene and more crews from LA City are arriving to help.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Announced Wednesday afternoon He said he authorized the use of federal dollars to help California fight the Mountain Fire. This money can go towards field camps, supplies, equipment usage and other firefighting expenses.

As of Nov. 6, all homes at risk of fire are primary residences, according to FEMA.

weather conditions

Winds of up to 80 miles per hour were observed.

However, winds are expected to continue to ease Friday morning as red flag conditions have greatly diminished. Onshore winds will come into play on Friday afternoon, spreading a weak marine layer and increasing relative humidity.

“As we get into the daytime on Saturday, the onshore flow will have a much broader impact across southern and central Ventura County, and we expect that to wet the area as well,” said Ariel Cohen, chief meteorologist. The National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard said at a press conference Thursday evening.

But Cohen warned that Santa Ana winds could return next week and urged people to be prepared.

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