Firefighters are currently combating a brushfire known as the Auto Fire, which ignited in Ventura County. The incident was first reported around 7:45 PM on Monday in the Santa Clara River bottom, close to North Ventura Boulevard and Auto Center Drive, as detailed by the Ventura County Fire Department.
The fire has been exacerbated by strong winds, with gusts recorded between 20 and 30 miles per hour, and even stronger winds are expected on Tuesday morning. Initially spanning 5 acres, the fire rapidly expanded to 10 acres and then surged to approximately 56 acres by late Monday night. In a social media update, the Ventura County Fire Department announced that the forward progress of the blaze had been halted, although containment remained at 0% at that time.
Firefighters from multiple departments are on-site, actively working to extinguish hotspots and improve containment measures. Fortunately, the fire is confined to the river bottom, posing no threat to nearby structures at this stage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Aerial firefighting support includes four water-dropping aircraft on the scene, such as a Chinook helicopter and a Sikorsky Sea King, assisting ground crews in mitigating the spread of the flames.
While the situation remains serious, the collaborative efforts of teams and advanced fire suppression tactics provide hope for greater containment in the coming hours. The robust response underscores the dedication of emergency services in protecting both the environment and local communities.