Mountain Fire burns toward Santa Paula after decimating the Camarillo area

By means ofABC7.com staff KABC logo

Last updated: Thursday, November 7, 2024 5:43 PM GMT

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

The out-of-control wildfire 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 quickly exploded and has since scorched more than 14,000 acres.

At one point, the fire jumped Highway 118 and began burning southwest toward the “Highway 101 Corridor.” Overnight, the flames spread and moved toward the Santa Paula area.

Top headlines

Here’s how the news is developing.

Moorpark Mountain Fire 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 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 the 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 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 from 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 Road
Camarillo, CA 93012

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

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

Fire information hotline:
805-465-6650

AIR7 counts 83 homes in Camarillo Heights that have been destroyed

Dozens of homes have been 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. Nearly all homes 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 will be closed Thursday and Friday, as will ACE Charter High School.

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

See others school closures due to the fire here.

Home of Camarillo man of nearly 40 years destroyed by mountain fire

Steve Taylor’s Camarillo home, which he has owned for nearly four decades, is now a pile of ash and rubble after being destroyed by the Mountain Fire.

FEMA funds awarded to support Mountain Fire response

California received federal assistance from FEMA after a request from Governor Gavin Newsom was granted.

“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 tools they need to save lives and property as they continue to battle this aggressive fire. ”