Wildfire devastates Southern California community, destroys dozens of homes

A fast-moving wildfire driven by intense winds continued to wreak havoc in a community northwest of Los Angeles for the second consecutive day on Thursday, after destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands to evacuate as it rapidly expanded within hours.

Over 10,000 people evacuated amid emergency

The Mountain Fire led to evacuation orders affecting over 10,000 residents as it endangered approximately 3,500 structures in the areas surrounding Camarillo. California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement on Wednesday, emphasizing the severity of the situation. The Ventura County Fire Department reported that as of late Wednesday, the blaze was 0% contained.

Red flag warnings and power outages

A red flag warning, signaling high fire danger, was set to remain in effect until Thursday at 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Winds were predicted to drop significantly by Thursday night. Statewide, over 30,000 customers were left without power early Thursday, including around 3,000 in Ventura County and approximately 4,000 in Los Angeles County.

Homes are engulfed and firefighting efforts underway

The fire consumed homes and generated thick smoke as firefighters battled to suppress the flames and protect structures. The Mountain Fire rapidly expanded from under half a square mile to more than 16 square miles in just over five hours and grew to 22 square miles by late Wednesday. Firefighting efforts continued through the night, assisted by night-flying helicopters.

Hundreds of firefighters mobilized

Around 800 firefighters were deployed, with additional personnel arriving from across California. Initial damage assessments were expected to begin on Thursday, with officials confirming numerous structures had been impacted. Authorities urged residents to heed evacuation warnings as embers spread and ignited new blazes.

School closures and resident evacuations

More than a dozen schools in Ventura County were closed on Thursday, with some already planning closures for Friday. Fire Captain Trevor Johnson described the intensity of the situation, highlighting the danger faced by crews as they worked tirelessly to protect lives and homes.

Smoke inhalation cases and ongoing firefighting

Two individuals were treated for apparent smoke inhalation and transported to hospitals. No major injuries were reported among firefighters. Despite deploying various resources, including water-dropping aircraft and fire retardants, the fire remained uncontained. Ventura County fire spokesperson Andrew Dowd noted the absence of detailed reports on property damage.

Malibu blaze and high wind conditions

Further south, Los Angeles County firefighters were working to control a wildfire near Broad Beach in Malibu, prompting a temporary closure of the Pacific Coast Highway. The 50-acre Broad Fire reached 60% containment by late Wednesday, but not before damaging two structures.

Conditions ripe for dangerous fire behavior

The weather service warned that parts of Southern California could experience “extreme and life-threatening” fire conditions through Thursday, with predicted gusts up to 50 mph and humidity as low as 9%. Some areas recorded wind gusts over 60 mph on Wednesday.

Preventative power shutoffs and fire history

California utility companies have increasingly powered down equipment during extreme fire conditions to prevent sparking new blazes. On Wednesday, more than 65,000 customers in Southern California and 20,000 in Northern California were affected by preventative power shutoffs. The fires erupted in areas previously devastated by notable wildfires, such as the 2018 Woolsey Fire and the 2017 Thomas Fire, for which Southern California Edison paid significant settlements due to its equipment’s involvement.