Maria Fire
A brush fire that broke out Halloween night on South Mountain in Ventura County scorching 9,000 acres and forcing thousands of residents in the area to evacuate is currently zero percent contained, fire officials said Friday afternoon. Dubbed the Maria Fire, the blaze burning in the area between Santa Paula and Somis forced several schools in the area to cancel classes for Friday.
Fire officials in Ventura County say the Maria Fire broke out just after 6 p.m. on South Mountain with the blaze currently zero percent contained as of 7 a.m. Friday morning. Two structures have been destroyed by the fire, which continues to threaten more homes in the Santa Paula and Somis communities. According to Capt. Brian McGrath, fire crews have been dispatched to that location to protect those residences. More than 500 firefighters from the ground and air are working the incident.
Firefighters ran into a major obstacle battling the blaze Thursday as fire officials had to ground aerial units assisting in the fight, twice, due to drones being flown in the area.
The newest fire to break out in Southern California this week comes at the tail end of some of the worst Santa Ana winds in recent history. Currently, firefighters are dealing with winds from the northeast at 18 mph, with gusts up to 25. The forecast for Friday calls for offshore winds with the relative humidity hovering around 10% or less.
Evacuations
- North Boundary : South Mountain Road
- West Boundary: West Los Angeles Ave
- East Boundary: Balcom Canyon Road
- South Boundary: Highway 118
- SANTA PAULA
- North Boundary : Highway 126
- West Boundary: East of Campanula Avenue
- East Boundary: South 12th Street / South Mountain Road
- South Boundary: Santa Clara River
Evacuation Centers
- Camarillo Community Center - 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo
For small animals:
- Camarillo Animal Shelter - 600 Aviation Dr., Camarillo
For Large Animals:
- Ventura County Fairgrounds - 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
- Earl Warren Showgrounds - 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara
Road Closures
- South Mountain Road between 12th Street and Balcom Canyon
- Berylwood Road at Aggen Road
- West La Loma Road between Center Road and Walnut Avenue
- Price Road at E. Los Angeles Ave (Highway 118)
- Clubhouse Drive at E. Los Angeles Avenue (Highway 118)
School Closures
- ACE (Camarillo)
- Briggs School District
- Dwire School
- Gateway Community School
- Hueneme Elementary School District
- James Foster School
- La Mariposa School
- Las Colinas Middle School
- Mesa Union School District
- Mupu School District
- Oxnard Union High School District
- Phoenix Airport
- Phoenix Los Nogales
- Pleasant Valley Early Childhood Center
- Ritchen Preschool
- Santa Clara Elementary School District
- Santa Paula Unified School District
- Sunkist School
- Triton Academy
- University Preparation (Camarillo)
- Williams Preschool
Elsewhere, fires across the Southland continued to burn with several fires that sparked on Thursday seeing containment increase significantly on Friday. Here's a list of current evacuations due to the fires raging across Southern California.
Hillside Fire - San Bernardino
Evacuations have been lifted in San Bernardino after the Hillside Fire in San Bernardino broke out Thursday morning. The blaze scorched 200 acres and destroyed 24 structures. However, major progress was made with fire crews gained the upper hand, reaching 50% containment. Evacuation orders were lifted as of 6 p.m. However, the evacuation center will remain open. Approximately 490 homes and 1,300 people had to be evacuated due to the fire.
Evacuation Center
Pacific High School -1020 Pacific Street.
46 Fire - Jurupa Valley
A car that was being chased by police is being blamed for sparking a wildfire in Jurupa Valley that scorched 300 acres. At least three homes and two outbuildings were destroyed by the blaze that broke out just after midnight on Thursday. Flames spread into Riverside after the fire jumped the Santa Ana river. It's currently 50% contained.
Easy Fire - Simi Valley
The Easy Fire broke out Wednesday morning near Easy Street in Simi Valley. At least two structures have been destroyed by the flames that scorched 1,806 acres. Firefighters working on the blaze have gotten containment up to 60%, helping to lift evacuations in the area. No cause has been determined at this time.
Getty Fire - Brentwood
A fire that was likely sparked by a falling tree branch onto some power lines scorched 745 acres this week after it broke out early Monday morning. Evacuations still have not been lifted in the area while fire crews work to douse hot spots and try to prevent it from sparking back up again.
Evacuations
- All evacuations have been lifted as of Friday morning.
Evacuation Centers
- Palisades Recreation Center - 851 Alma Real Drive
- Westwood Recreation Center - 1350 South Sepulveda Boulevard
Small animals
- West Valley Animal Shelter - 20655 Plummer Street
- West LA Animal Shelter - 11361 West Pico Boulevard
Road Closures
- Sepulveda Boulevard southbound from Skirball Center Drive to Sunset Boulevard is open to residents with I.D. only.