Mountain fire destroys 132 structures as Newsom declares a state of emergency

Hundreds of firefighters and several helicopters on the scene were working under dangerous ‘red flag’ conditions expected to last in most areas until Thursday evening – and in the north until early Friday morning.

Evacuation orders were extended east into Moorpark late this morning as far as Grimes Canyon Road (the 23) and as far south as E. Los Angeles Avenue (the 118). These orders were issued in anticipation of the weakening of the Santa Anas this evening and more regular – and less intense – winds from the west that could strengthen and push the fire eastward.

In the south, after burning parts of Camarillo Heights saw the fire further along the north side of the 101 Freeway. The Camarillo Airport is just on the other side of the 101. See the burned areas below in red.

About 10,800 electric customers in Ventura County were without power Thursday evening. Southern California Edison has set up community centers at the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center in Moorpark, Simi Valley Senior Center and the Ventura Beach Marriott, which are open Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Mountain Fire broke out Wednesday morning near Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road in Somis and jumped the 118 Freeway, driven by wind gusts that could reach 100 mph in some areas. Numerous homes have been damaged or destroyed in the Camarillo Heights and Camarillo Estates areas, and evacuation orders remain in effect.

Cal Fire is working with Ventura County and San Luis Obispo County fire departments to battle the flames. The Los Angeles Fire Department sent nearly 100 firefighters to the blaze, including at least five attack teams, along with another team made up of fire personnel from Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica. Other local fire departments, including Glendale, are also on scene.

EARLIER, Wednesday 6:28 PM: “Firefighters immediately worked to rescue people from their homes and save lives,” Trevor Johnson, chief of operations for the Ventura County Fire Department, said today at a news conference to discuss the Mountain Fire northwest of Los Angeles. He said it was “a heavy firefight” from the moment emergency services arrived on the scene in the area between Moorpark and Somis this morning.

The Mountain Fire is currently 10,480 acres with 0% containment. Emergency responders have made more than 14,000 contacts to evacuate people in the community, according to officials. Two civilians were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

One day after a historic presidential election, every local news outlet in Los Angeles was focused on coverage of the Mountain Fire, including images of burning homes, correspondents on the ground and interviews with evacuees and local officials.

“This is a classic Santa Ana wind event. We have sustained winds over 50 miles per hour with gusts over 50 miles per hour,” said Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. “Every firefighter in the region, all of our partners – from Los Angeles County, Orange County, Kern County, Santa Barbara County, our partners at CalFire, our partners in law enforcement, the sheriff, every helicopter, every fixed-wing aircraft, everything that we got hold of – is here fighting this fire, and it is spreading at a dangerous rate.”

A major contributing factor, Gardner says, is the winds. As a result, “This fire has extended over two and a half miles.”