California faced intense winds on Wednesday that fueled a rapidly spreading wildfire, destroying numerous homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. Forecasters warned of “extreme and life-threatening” conditions as the fire intensified.
To the northwest of Los Angeles, the Mountain Fire expanded swiftly, leading to evacuation orders for over 10,000 people as it endangered 3,500 structures, including suburban homes, ranches, and farmland around Camarillo. According to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom, the federal government approved a request for assistance, as confirmed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The fire raged through an area known for some of California’s most destructive wildfires in past years. A dense plume of smoke rose hundreds of feet, engulfing neighborhoods and obstructing visibility for firefighters and evacuees. In just over five hours, the fire spread from under half a square mile to 16 square miles (62 square kilometers).
Ventura County Fire Captain Trevor Johnson described fire crews rushing to protect homes in immediate danger. “This is as intense as it gets,” he said, adding that firefighters were on high alert.
At one location, flames consumed what remained of a home, leaving only charred shingles. Two individuals suffered apparent smoke inhalation and were hospitalized, though no serious injuries were reported among firefighters.
Erratic winds and poor visibility grounded fixed-wing aircraft, with gusts reaching 61 mph (98 kph), according to meteorologist Bryan Lewis. However, water-dropping helicopters were still operational.
Officials urged residents to evacuate, as deputies notified around 14,000 people amid embers that traveled up to 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), sparking new flames.
“This fire is moving dangerously fast,” stated Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner.
Local news footage showed dozens of homes ablaze across various neighborhoods, with embers spreading from one to the next. Some footage captured horses trotting alongside evacuating vehicles.
Jade Katz, who has a disability and does not drive, waited with her Great Dane service dog, Bella, and her medications near her home in Camarillo Heights. When a friend couldn’t reach her, first responders escorted her out as helicopters dropped water nearby.
"On the way out, five or eight houses had already burned down," said Katz, 35, who was traveling with housemate Shannon Kelly, 28, en route to Los Angeles for the night.
Officials deployed all available resources, including water-dropping helicopters and fire retardant, but the fire remained out of control by Wednesday afternoon. Ventura County fire spokesperson Andrew Dowd indicated no exact count on the structures damaged.
Gus Garcia, a local ranch owner, monitored conditions closely, preparing to evacuate his livestock if necessary. Although his animals were safe by noon, he noted that nearby ranchers seemed calm. “The horse community prepares for this, as it’s always a possibility here,” he explained.
In Los Angeles County, firefighters worked to contain a separate blaze near Malibu’s Broad Beach. Authorities briefly closed the Pacific Coast Highway as flames threatened multimillion-dollar properties. The 50-acre (20-hectare) Broad Fire reached 15% containment by midday, with two structures burned.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the Los Angeles area, designating it a “particularly dangerous situation,” with officials cautioning residents about fast-moving fires, power outages, and fallen trees amid powerful Santa Ana winds.
Forecasts predicted gusts from 50 mph (80 kph) to 100 mph (160 kph) and humidity as low as 8%, setting the stage for “extreme and life-threatening” fire conditions through Thursday. Red flag warnings extended from California’s central coast to the San Francisco Bay Area and into Northern California, where strong winds were also anticipated.
California utilities have started proactively shutting down power during high winds and fire danger. By Wednesday, over 65,000 customers in Southern California and upwards of 20,000 in Northern California were without power as a preventive measure.
These latest fires ignited in areas impacted by previous destructive fires, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which killed three and destroyed 1,600 homes, and the 2017 Thomas Fire, which devastated over a thousand homes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Southern California Edison has paid millions in settlements related to both fires after its equipment was deemed responsible.
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