LOS ANGELES — Firefighters in Southern California are making progress against a significant wildfire that has destroyed over 130 buildings, thanks to the decline of strong winds and anticipated favorable weather conditions for the weekend.
The Mountain Fire, which is located in Ventura County, currently spans 32 square miles (approximately 83 square kilometers) and is 17% contained, according to Fire Operations Section Chief Clint Swensen. This fire ignited on Wednesday, rapidly expanding due to the arrival of dry, warm air and strong northeast winds. As a result, thousands of residents were forced to evacuate, with the blaze endangering around 3,500 structures within suburban areas, ranches, and agricultural lands surrounding Camarillo.
Red flag warnings, which indicate high fire danger conditions, were lifted in most parts of the region as of Thursday. By Saturday, smoke still lingered in the air due to light winds, which were reported to be between five and 10 mph (eight to 16 kph). These milder conditions are proving beneficial for firefighting efforts, as noted by Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Kittell mentioned, “It’s very favorable for the weekend. Good for firefighting efforts but not great for air quality.” Although forecasts indicate that winds may return to the area on Tuesday, they are not expected to reach the intense levels experienced last week.
The area northwest of Los Angeles has endured some of California’s most catastrophic fires in recent history. In a remarkable surge, the Mountain Fire increased from less than half a square mile (about 1.2 square kilometers) to over 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in just a little over five hours on Wednesday, reaching wind gusts of over 61 mph (98 kph).
In response to the ongoing crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Ventura County.
