A fast-moving wildfire named the Mountain Fire continued to threaten communities in Ventura County, California, northwest of Los Angeles on Thursday, as reported by AP News.
The fire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, ignited on Wednesday and swiftly grew to over 22 square miles within a few hours, destroying numerous homes and prompting evacuation orders for more than 10,000 residents.
Governor Gavin Newsom stated that over 3,500 structures remain at risk as fire crews from across California assist in containing the blaze.
By Wednesday evening, Ventura County Fire Department reported zero containment, with efforts to contain the fire ongoing overnight, including the use of night-flying helicopters.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, which highlights high fire danger conditions, set to remain in effect until Thursday at 6 p.m.
Strong winds were anticipated to decrease by Thursday night, although humidity remained critically low, with gusts reaching speeds of up to 61 mph on Wednesday.
Officials have advised residents across Southern California to remain vigilant due to the fire-prone conditions and the potential for further blazes.
Approximately 30,000 customers statewide were experiencing power outages Thursday morning, with thousands affected in both Ventura and Los Angeles counties as utility companies cut power to reduce fire risks.
Around 800 firefighters were deployed to combat the Mountain Fire, with hundreds more expected to join from various locations throughout the state.
Crews worked through the night to prevent flames from reaching densely populated neighborhoods.
Fire Captain Trevor Johnson described the challenging situation, noting that firefighters were dealing with embers traveling long distances and igniting new fires.
“This is as intense as it gets,” Johnson said, referring to the perilous conditions faced by fire crews as they raced to protect homes in the fire’s path.
Two residents were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, though no serious firefighter injuries were reported.
To the south in Los Angeles County, fire crews were working to contain a separate wildfire near Malibu’s Broad Beach, where multimillion-dollar properties were under threat.
The Broad Fire, which grew to 50 acres, forced a temporary shutdown of the Pacific Coast Highway and led to a containment status of 60% by Wednesday evening.
Two structures were damaged in the area as fire suppression efforts continued with water-dropping aircraft.
The wildfire activity in California comes amid continued efforts by utility companies to reduce fire risk through preemptive power outages.
The preventative measures stem from previous fires in recent years that were linked to electrical equipment.
In Southern California alone, more than 65,000 customers were without power as a precaution on Wednesday, and similar outages were recorded in Northern California.
The Mountain Fire in Ventura County, California, has spread rapidly, fueled by powerful winds, and forced the evacuation of over 10,000 residents across Camarillo and nearby areas.
The fire remains at zero containment as of Thursday morning, covering more than 22 square miles and threatening 3,500 structures.
California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed the fire’s continued threat to suburban and agricultural zones.
Firefighters are utilizing all available resources, including aerial support, to battle the blaze and protect communities.
A red flag warning is in effect until Thursday evening, with winds expected to ease later in the day.
Additional wildfires in Los Angeles County have led to precautionary power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents.
With ongoing dry, windy conditions, officials are urging Californians to remain cautious as efforts to contain the fires progress.