A brush fire that erupted near Balcom Canyon and Bradley roads in Southern California Wednesday morning has burned at least 1,500 acres and prompted evacuations and a large-scale response.
Dangerous Santa Ana winds are fanning the blaze, which started shortly before 9 a.m. Pacific Time. The Mountain Fire, as it has been named, reportedly jumped Highway 118, near Camarillo Heights, shortly after 10:45 a.m.
Authorities report injuries
Kim Dellacort, a public information officer with the Office of Emergency Services, said she was aware people had sustained injuries and were taken to a local hospital. Details about the injuries or current conditions were not immediately available.
Campus evacuates, students taken to middle school
Camarillo Heights Elementary School was evacuated Wednesday, according to a statement from the Pleasant Valley School District. Remaining Camarillo Heights students were transported by bus to Monte Vista Middle School. All district child care services will end at 4:30 p.m. today.
Himelda Rubio, executive assistant to the district’s superintendent, said in a call just after 1:00 p.m. that most of the evacuated Camarillo Heights students have been picked up but a few remain at Monte Vista. The district has logged no injuries or property damage.
Road closures
Northbound Lewis Road at Las Posas
Eastbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
Westbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada Road
Evacuation orders, warnings
The following evacuation orders are in effect for unincorporated areas near Somis, Camarillo Heights and nearby areas as of early 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 on evacuations and power shutoffs, visit vcemergency.com.
Evacuation orders updated
As of about 12:15 p.m., evacuation orders have been updated to now include:
Camarillo Heights area: North Lewis Road to Los Posas Country Club tp North of Loop Drive
Unincorporated Somis
West to Saticoy Country Club
East to Balcom Canyon Road
South to Highway 118
Fire continues to advance
The fire was said to have jumped the area near Mission and Highland drives in Camarillo shortly before noon, according to radio traffic. Elsewhere, it was said to be approaching the Saticoy Country Club.
Authorities continued to assist residents with evacuation efforts.
Smoke blows into Camarillo, power outages reported
Billowing smoke blew into Camarillo late Wednesday morning as the fire remained active in hillside areas. Some traffic signals were out, snarling traffic.
An evacuation area for residents was set up at Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo. Four families had checked in as of 11:30 a.m. with more expected to arrive, said Steve Medina, a member of the Red Cross communications team.
Evacuations, road closures
Radio traffic indicates fire crews have been sent to some homes in the area to assist people unable to evacuate as flames approached. Multiple residents on Greentree Drive were assisted.
Some people with injuries have been taken by ambulance to local hospitals, fire officials said. Radio traffic indicated some had gone to Los Robles Regional Medical Center.
Highway 118 was 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 being evacuated to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Small animals can be evacuated to the county’s Camarillo Animal Shelter.
Ventura County Fire set up two task forces to fight potential fires given the strong winds and the red flag warning issued by the Naitonal Weather Service, said firefighter Andrew Dowd, county fire spokesman.
For more information, go to vcemergency.com or call a hotline at 805-465-6650.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Fast-moving Mountain Fire whips through Moorpark hills, Somis
