Springs Fire Rages On For Second Day, Evacuations Remain In Place
CAMARILLO (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a brush fire that started Thursday near the 101 Freeway in Camarillo is just 20 percent contained after scorching 28,000 acres in Ventura County.
The Springs Fire flared up again just after noon Friday when offshore winds shifted back on-shore. Some of the flames seen from Sky9 were estimated to be at least 150 feet, according to Mike Case.
Bill Nash of the Ventura County Fire called the change of events a "nightmare" situation. CBS2's Chief Meteorologist Josh Rubenstein also confirmed that the temperature in Camarillo was a record-breaking 96 degrees as of 12:30 p.m.
The blaze has spread to more than 43 square miles. It reached Pacific Coast Highway at Sycamore Canyon Road around 9 p.m. Thursday and subsequently jumped PCH just before 9 a.m. Friday.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated, 15 homes have been damaged, and another 4,000 are threatened. No residential structures have been destroyed, but 25 out buildings, power lines and several RVs at a storage facility were damaged.
Evacuation orders for Hidden Valley, Sycamore Canyon, La Jolla Canyon, Broome Ranch, Camarillo Springs, Deer Creek Road and Yerba Buena Road remain in effect. Homes on the south side of Potrero Road from Reino Road east to 930 W. Potrero Road were also being evacuated. The Ventura County Naval Base was evacuating the San Miguel housing area due to smoke. Families were being asked to relocate to Port Hueneme.
Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Friday morning for residents living in Dos Vientos and the area around Cal State Channel Islands, but residents could be evacuated again Friday afternoon.
The Cal State Channel Islands campus, which was evacuated Thursday, was also closed Friday.
The Red Cross established an evacuation shelter at Calvary Chapel Camarillo, 380 Mobil Ave. Other centers were set up at Thousand Oaks Community Park, 2525 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks and Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Dr.
Animals were being taken to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Camp Bow Wow in Agoura Hills was also housing cats and dogs free of charge.
Anyone who lives or works in an evacuation area can call (805)388-4276 for more information.
An 11-mile stretch of PCH was shut down from Las Posas to Mulholland Highway, the California Highway Patrol said. The roadway was reopened by Friday afternoon.
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Roughly 954 personnel — including six hand crews, eight water-dropping helicopters, six fixed-wing air tankers, five dozers and 96 engines — were batting the massive wildfire, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
In addition to Ventura crews, firefighters from Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Paula, the Ventura County Naval Base, Cal Fire, Orange County, Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, to name a few, were fighting the blaze. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol were also assisting in the effort. FEMA also authorized the use of federal funds to help the state battle the fire.
No injuries have been reported.
