Apache Fire in Ventura County burns 800 acres, homes under mandatory evacuations

A fast-moving brush fire in Ventura County has burned through 800 acres, leading to the evacuation of nearby homes.

The Apache Fire was reported at 6:32 p.m. Tuesday in a northwestern area of Ventura County, in Central California's Cuyama Valley, and had grown to 250 acres with 0% containment by 10 p.m., according to VC Emergency. By noon the following day, local authorities estimated it was 800 acres and still at 0% containment.

The starting point of the blaze was on the east end of Highway 33, also known as the Maricopa Highway, just north of Apache Canyon Road, authorities said. Images show huge, thick plumes of smoke floating through mountain areas, with a trail of bright red flames running through the shrubbery.

Homes along Apache Canyon Road were evacuated by sheriff's officials Tuesday night as firefighters from the Ventura County Fire Department and Los Padres National Forest worked together to put out the blaze. At 10:30 p.m., the county's fire department said firefighters would be "working throughout the night trying to keep the fire within Apache Canyon."

The mandatory evacuation order issued at 9 p.m. remained in place by noon the next day, with five homes threatened in the area which is about 30 miles northeast of Ojai, authorities said.

A heat wave was forecasted to last Tuesday through Thursday, particularly within some inland parts of Southern California, according to the National Weather Service, which reported temperatures around the blaze were in the mid-90s at noon Tuesday. 

The latest on evacuation orders and warnings can be found here. Those affected can find information on emergency resources and other updates here.