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A raging forest fire sweeps through Somis, Camarillo Heights

Posted on by Vanessa
A raging forest fire sweeps through Somis, Camarillo Heights

Bushfires in the hills near Moorpark and Somis have burned hundreds of hectares of land and prompted evacuations.

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A brush fire that started Wednesday morning near Balcom Canyon and Bradley roads has burned nearly 8,900 acres of land, prompting evacuations and large-scale response.

Dangerous Santa Ana winds are fanning the fire, which started just before 9 a.m. near the 7900 block of Bradley Road and Balcom Canyon Road. The Mountain Fire, as it is called, reportedly jumped onto Highway 118 near Camarillo Heights shortly after 10:45 a.m

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Evacuation order for Camarillo and Somis

The following evacuation orders are in effect for unincorporated areas near Somis, Camarillo Heights and surrounding areas beginning early this afternoon:

  • West to Saticoy Country Club
  • East to Balcom Canyon Road
  • South to Highway 118
  • West to Beardsley Road, north to Loop Drive and Las Posas Road to Ponderosa Drive

A shelter is located at Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Road in the Camarillo area.

For the latest information on evacuations and power shutoffs, visit vcemergency.com or call a hotline at 805-465-6650.

Road closures

  • Lewis Road north at Las Posas
  • Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
  • Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road

About 25 horses and more than a dozen goats from the fire were evacuated to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. More are expected.Nancy Reeves was at a Somis ranch about two miles from the fire. She thought it would pass the property. “Then the wind shifted and came straight toward us,” she said. Reeves brought nine horses to the fairgrounds. Bill Manning, who rents a barn in Somis, brought 10 animals. Livestock evacuations are being coordinated by Ventura County Animal Services. A volunteer livestock rescue team has also been activated. Dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals can be brought to the shelter on Aviation Drive in Camarillo.

The Oxnard Union High School District closed its eight main campuses Wednesday, including Rancho Campana High School, Camarillo High School, Rio Mesa High School, Channel Islands High School, Del Sol High School, Hueneme High School, the Oxnard High School and Pacifica High School School.Brianna Mellon, a district spokeswoman, said in an email shortly after 1:15 p.m. that Rancho Campana students who did not drive themselves or whose parents cannot pick them up were going to Camarillo Get high and wait in the school gym. Camarillo and Rio Mesa high schools will remain open and students will be allowed to wait on campus for as long as necessary to be picked up.

Authorities reported the bushfire had burned nearly 8,900 hectares by early afternoon.

The fire ignited during what the National Weather Service called “particularly dangerous” conditions across much of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Devastating wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour will be accompanied by humidity of about 10% over critically dry terrain, forecasters said.

The authority's warning has been extended until 9 a.m. Thursday for wind-prone areas. Due to heavy smoke from the mountain fire in southern Ventura County, the agency has also issued a dense smoke warning.

According to a statement from the Pleasant Valley School District, Camarillo Heights Elementary School was evacuated shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. The remaining Camarillo Heights students were transported by bus to Monte Vista Middle School. All child care services in the district end today at 4:30 p.m.

Himelda Rubio, assistant to the district superintendent, said in a call shortly after 1 p.m. that most of the evacuated students had been picked up from Camarillo Heights but some were still in Monte Vista. The district reported no injuries or property damage.

Authorities have issued an evacuation warning for the following area north of Highway 101 in Camarillo. A warning means people should be ready to leave.

  • West to Beardsley Road
  • North to Loop Drive
  • Las Posas Road to Ponderosa Drive

As of approximately 12:15 p.m., evacuation orders have been updated to include the following:

– Camarillo Heights area: North Lewis Road to Los Posas Country Club to north of Loop Drive

– Unincorporated Somis

  • West to Saticoy Country Club
  • East to Balcom Canyon Road
  • South to Highway 118

Authorities have issued an evacuation warning for the following area north of Highway 101 in Camarillo. A warning means people should be ready to leave.

  • West to Beardsley Road
  • North to Loop Drive
  • Las Posas Road to Ponderosa Drive

Updated road closures include:

  • Lewis Road north at Las Posas
  • Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
  • Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road

The authorities report injuries

Kim Dellacort, a public information officer for the Office of Emergency Services, said she knew people were injured and were taken to a local hospital. Details about the injuries or current condition were not immediately available.

At approximately 12:10 p.m., firefighters called for the closure of Las Posas Road and Crestview Drive in Camarillo, where several vehicles were reportedly stuck and possibly struck by fire.

According to radio traffic, the fire was reported to have engulfed the area near Mission and Highland driveways in Camarillo shortly before noon. Elsewhere it is said to have approached the Saticoy Country Club.

Authorities continued to assist residents with evacuation efforts.

Plumes of smoke blew into Camarillo late Wednesday morning as the fire remained active in mountainous areas. Some traffic lights were out and traffic was snarling.

An evacuation zone has been set up for residents at Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo. As of 11:30 a.m., four families had checked in and more are expected to arrive, said Steve Medina, a member of the Red Cross communications team.

Evacuations, road closures

Radio traffic indicates that firefighters were sent to some homes in the area to help people who could not be evacuated as the flames approached. Several residents on Greentree Drive were treated.

Some injured people were taken to local hospitals by ambulance, fire officials said. Radio traffic indicated some had gone to Los Robles Regional Medical Center.

Highway 118 is closed in all directions in the Somis area, California Highway Patrol officials said.

A traffic jam had formed near Mission Drive and Las Posas Road as residents tried to evacuate, sheriff's radio traffic indicated.

Large animals were evacuated to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Small animals can be evacuated to the county's Camarillo Animal Shelter.

The following evacuation orders have been in effect since late morning for unincorporated areas near Somis:

  • West to Saticoy Country Club
  • East to Balcom Canyon Road
  • South to Highway 118

A shelter is located at Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Road in the Camarillo area.

Roads and highways closed

The California Highway Patrol reported the following closures in place:

  • Highway 118 south at Tierra Rejada
  • Southbound Highway 118 at Lewis Road
  • Highway 118 southbound at Wells Road
  • Balcom in Stockton
  • Las Posas in Lewis

The Ventura County Fire Department deployed two task forces to fight potential fires because of the strong winds and the warning from the National Weather Service, said firefighter Andrew Dowd, spokesman for the county fire department.

For more information, visit vcemergency.com or call a hotline at 805-465-6650.

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