A fast-moving wildfire fueled by heavy winds was tearing through a community northwest of Los Angeles for a second day after destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee. The Mountain Fire prompted evacuation orders for more than 10,000 people as it threatened 3,500 structures in suburban communities around Camarillo. The fire, which was at 0% containment, erupted in size in only a few hours and was being fueled by high fire danger conditions indicated by a red flag warning that was in effect until Thursday evening. Officials in Southern California counties warned residents to be prepared for fast-spreading blazes, power outages, and other hazards.
The Mountain Fire was burning in an area that has a history of destructive wildfires in California. The smoke from the fire was visible for miles, blanketing neighborhoods and limiting visibility for both firefighters and evacuees. The fire quickly grew from less than half of a square mile to over 16 square miles in a matter of hours. First responders were urging residents to evacuate as embers were spreading for miles, sparking new fires. Ventura County Fire Captain Trevor Johnson described the intense conditions as crews raced with their engines to save lives threatened by the flames.
Two people suffered smoke inhalation and were hospitalized, while no significant injuries were reported among firefighters. Resources including water-dropping helicopters and aircraft dropping fire retardant were being used to contain the inferno, which was still burning out of control. To the south in Los Angeles County, firefighters were working to contain a wildfire near Malibu’s Broad Beach, where the Pacific Coast Highway was briefly shut down. By late Wednesday, the fire was at 60% containment, and its forward progress was stopped. Predicted strong winds and low humidity in parts of Southern California could continue to fuel extreme fire behavior into Thursday.
Utilities in California were taking preventive measures by powering down equipment during high winds and extreme fire danger to prevent wildfires sparked by electrical lines and infrastructure. On Wednesday, more than 65,000 customers in Southern California were without power, as were upwards of 20,000 in Northern California. The wildfire risk was heightened due to the hot and dry conditions, coupled with the Santa Ana winds that were fanning the flames in the region. Notorious wildfires like the Woolsey Fire in 2018 and the Thomas Fire in 2017 have resulted in significant damage and destruction in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with Southern California Edison being held responsible for equipment failures that caused these blazes.
Forecasters issued red flag warnings across California, from the central coast through the San Francisco Bay Area and into the northern counties, where high winds were expected. Throughout the state, residents were advised to be prepared for extreme and life-threatening fire conditions. With gusts forecasted to reach up to 50 mph and humidity levels as low as 9%, the risk of wildfires spreading rapidly remained a concern. In addition to fires in Southern California, parts of the state had to contend with power outages caused by the shut down of electrical infrastructure to mitigate the risk of wildfires. As firefighting efforts continued and conditions remained challenging, residents and officials alike prepared for more possible rapid-spreading blazes and further preventative measures to protect lives and property.
