Firefighters in Ventura County battled a significant brush fire Monday night, with the incident occurring near Auto Center Drive in the Santa Clara River bottom, between Ventura and Oxnard. The fire was reported at approximately 6:50 p.m. and quickly spread due to Santa Ana winds, prompting immediate action from firefighting teams.
By 8 a.m. Tuesday, the fire, now known as the Auto Fire, had burned nearly 56 acres, with containment reported at around 25% by noon. Andrew Dowd, spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, clarified that initial containment figures released earlier were inaccurate. Fortunately, the blaze did not threaten any structures, although an evacuation order was issued for the Santa Clara River area, which included the riverbed populated by homeless encampments and adjacent commercial businesses. It is notable that no residential evacuations were deemed necessary.
Fire crews were on the scene through the night, utilizing helicopters and ground resources to manage the blaze. The fire grew to about 10 acres within the first hour, and with support from additional aerial resources, firefighters worked diligently to prevent further spread. At its peak, around 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze, which did momentarily encroach upon River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard.
Compounding concerns, the fires occurred just before a “particularly dangerous situation” warning was issued by the National Weather Service, which highlights the severe fire weather conditions expected to last until at least Wednesday noon. Such warnings, categorized as PDS red flag warnings, are rare and indicate critical risks for wildfire activity.
This incident also included a second fire in Simi Valley, reported shortly after the Auto Fire. The Royal Fire ignited near Darrah Volunteer Park but was quickly controlled at about an acre.
Fire officials remain on high alert as they continue to address the ongoing risk posed by the extreme weather conditions, and investigations into the cause of the auto fire are underway. The resilience of the firefighting teams is commendable as they face challenging conditions to protect life and property.
In summary, while these fires represent a significant challenge for Ventura County, the prompt responses from emergency services and the absence of structural damage reflect strong preparedness and community resilience in the face of severe fire weather.