1 Dead In Fast-Moving Brush Fire That Threatens Santa Paula, Ventura
SANTA PAULA (CBSLA) — Fire crews were battling a fast-moving brush fire along the Santa Paula-Ojai border Monday night.
The fire was threatening homes and structures and was being pushed by an east wind toward Santa Paula and Ventura. The fire was expected to impact East Ventura by 1 a.m.
The fire was spreading at a rate of 1 acre per second, driven by fierce winds, Stu Mundel reported late Monday.
There has been one confirmed fatality associated with the fire from an automobile accident, according to the Ventura County Fire Department Public Information Officer.
Thomas Aquinas College was evacuated earlier in the evening.
Dubbed the Thomas Fire, the blaze was reported at 10,000 acres as of 11:30 p.m. and was being stoked by strong winds.
The Ventura County Fire Department reported that the fire was 0 percent contained as of 8:49 p.m.
More than 106,000 people in Ventura County and more than 51,000 people in Santa Barbara County were without power due to the Thomas Fire Monday night.
There are mandatory evacuations in the area. The mandatory evacuation order was for 436 homes east of Dickenson Road, North of Monte Vista Drive along Highway 150 and South of Thomas Aquinas College. About 1,000 homes were being evacuated late Monday in eastern Ventura, fire officials said.
Mobile homes in the Wheeler Canyon area were reported ablaze late Monday night.
The evacuation centers are located at Ventura County Fairgrounds at Miners Building – 10 W Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001 and Nordhoff High School – 1401 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai, CA 93023.
Soft Road Closures (Residents will need to provide proper identification to access their homes.):
Wheeler Canyon Road at Foothill Road
Highway 150 at Reeves Road
Highway 150 at Santa Barbara St
Hard Road Closures (Only public safety personnel will have access.):
Highway 150 at Sisar Road
Highway 150 at Stonegate Road
Santa Paula schools are closed Tuesday.
Check back for updates on this breaking news story.
