Edhat Staff
The Hill Fire is now fully contained and firefighters are gaining ground on the Woolsey Fire as it continues to move through Los Angeles County.
Hill Fire Update
The Hill Fire is currently 100% contained at 4,531 acres located in Eastern Camarillo and Newbury Park.
Fire suppression repair teams are actively engaged in working around the fire perimeter and affected areas. On Thursday night, a weak downcanyon flow with weak northeasterly winds at the ridges aided in the containment.
There have been no injuries reported from this fire. Two structures were destroyed and two other structures were damaged. Full containment is expected on November 16.
We would like to say “Thank you!” to everyone for your support of #WoolseyFire #firefighters. It is our pleasure to serve you during this very difficult time. pic.twitter.com/AZxjVMhJKh
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) November 14, 2018
Woolsey Fire Update
The Woolsey Fire is 69% contained at 98,362 acres and growing. The fire has expanded into Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, West Hills, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Bell Canyon, Hidden Hills, Malibu, and Calabasas.
Full containment of the fire is expected on November 19, 2018.
For today, onshore flow will continue across the incident, gusting a bit stronger than Thursday. Southerly/upcanyon gusts are expected to be around 20mph Friday afternoon. With the stronger onshore flow, temperatures will be a little bit cooler and minimum relative humidity higher.
Firefighting resources will continue to mop up and patrol. Fire suppression repair teams are actively engaged, working around the fire perimeter and affected areas. Unburned interior islands as well as burned structures adjacent to control lines will be monitored to prevent spread. Creas remain diligent in providing public service to residents as they return to their homes.
83% of all National Parks Service land in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has been burned by the Woolsey Fire. All National Parks Service lands in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are closed to public entry for safety.
The Woolsey Fire also burned through a portion of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. More on this announcement can be read here.
Three civilian fatalities and three firefighter injuries were reported by fire officials. Two people were found dead and severely burned while sitting in a stopped vehicle on a long residential driveway in Malibu, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s chief John Benedict.
There are 57,000 structures that remain threatened. Preliminary estimates show 616 total structures destroyed which accounts for nonresidential commerical property and minor structures. However, damage assessment for the affected area is 57% complete showing an additional 183 structures damaged.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reports looting activity during the past two days in the burn areas. Southeastern Ventura County is within a declared disaster area.
The Sheriff’s Office warns that people need to stay out of the area to let public safety crews do their work. Those found in areas where they do not belong will be contacted by law enforcement and may be arrested.
#WoosleyFire-Santa Barbara Co Fire’s Crew 1-2 goes to work Friday afternoon, Nov. 9, 2018 on the Woolsey Fire near @VCFD Ventura County Fire Station 56 along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Photo by Ray Ford pic.twitter.com/nCIACeosZx
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) November 12, 2018
Mandatory Evacuations
Ventura County
- South Coast: E. Las Posas Road south of Potrero Road to Highway 1 and county line
- Pacific Coast Highway is ipen to residents only who live along PCH
Los Angeles County
- Calabasas – portions have been repopulated
- Malibu – portions of the unincorporated areas of Malibu have been repopulated. South of Carbon Canyon & North of Tuna Canyon just North of PCH.
- Topanga – entire canyon / community
- Monte Nido – entire community
- Malibu Lake – entire community
- No access will be available to neighborhoods south of Mulholland Hwy.
Road Closures
- Hwy 1 southbound (P.C.H.) closed at Las Posas Rd. to Webb Way.
- Westlake Blvd. is closed southbound from Potrero Rd.
- S. Las Virgenes from Mulholland
- S. Kanan from Cornell Rd.
- W. Mulholland from Cornell Rd.
- Cold Canyon Rd. from Mulholland
- Everything is closed South of Mulholland Hwy & West of Cornell Rd.
- S. Stunt Rd. from Mulholland
- LA County public works has closed Chesebro Road at the bridge between Driver Ave and Balkins due to the bridge being damaged during the fire.
For more information visit vcemergency.com
Aerial view of the 23 freeway looking south on November 10 (Photo: Max Rosenberg)
[Updated: November 15, 2018]
Santa Barbara County Provides Assistance to Ventura County During Time of Need
Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office continues to provide support to Ventura County during a difficult time. Sheriff’s Office employees along with hundreds of people including law enforcement from across the state attended the funeral service today, November 15, 2018, for Ventura County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ron Helus who was tragically killed along with 11 other innocent victims in a mass shooting on November 7, 2018 in Thousand Oaks.
The Sheriff’s Office sent a management team to cover for Ventura County Sheriff’s Office managers today so that they could attend the services for their colleague who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died trying to protect others.
Santa Barbara County also continues to provide mutual aid assistance to help with security patrols in evacuated areas. The Sheriff’s Office currently has 19 deputies assigned to Ventura County and the Santa Barbara Police Department yesterday, November 14, 20 18 had 10 officers assigned to assist.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Copter 308 remains assigned in Ventura County to help combat wildfires and has been utilized for nighttime airdrops the past several nights.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide resources to Ventura County as long as we are needed.
Once you have breathed in PM2.5 (” PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) that have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which is about 3% the diameter of a human hair.”) that nasty junk embeds itself deep in your lungs. Breathing in smoke not only damages one’s lungs, it can damage one’s heart as well. People think burning wood is okay, but if you read up on PM2.5 and wood smoke pollution, you will get why you need to stop burning anything and need to stop afflicting yourself and others with wood smoke. I really feel for those affected by any wildfires. You cannot wear a mask 24/7 and the particulate matter will cling to your bedding, your clothing . . .
This is exactly the time to mention the health hazards of inhaling smoke regardless of whether it comes from wildfires or burning wood or wood products – your lungs can’t tell the difference.
Please stop with the anti-wood burning agenda. You seem to bring it up constantly and now is not the time to push it. People have lost so much, no one wants to hear you complain about wood smoke today, OK?
Evacuation. Is that still a thing? Is it time to discuss alternatives in this new day of explosive wildfires? Is “stand and fight…shelter in place” a discussion yet?
Would you please elucidate on your alternatives? So far, what you purport is what people who do not evacuate do. It is their choice and right. Succinctly, if one does not evacuate one cannot rely on protection or response to their requests, if made. How close have you been to a wildfire? Lost a home? Had friends who did? You do know you’re allowed to stay; you can’t be dragged away, right? (If my friends had been home, let alone wanted or tried to stay during Painted Cave Fire, they’d be dead.)
Many fire fighters had NO break for first __52 hours__, from the start of the Woosley Fire; some had no food either.
New category: homeless from climate change. Do you remember the Lake Isabella Erskine Fire in 2016; the second-largest wildfire of the 2016 California wildfire season. It was also the first fire of 2016 to have fatalities and is the 15th most destructive fire in state history. Still homeless there. The Santa Rosa Tubbs Fire, many fatalities, 2017, people still homeless. In all cases, low income, retirees, hard to spring back. SHASTA GUY, more fires, and now Camp Fire, you’re right, a humanitarian crisis. MANY thousands across the state. People forced to live in the shadows.
Nonsense! Have you any idea what fatigue does to fire fighting personnel? It gets them killed. Yes, they work long hours and the food they eat may not always be hot/warm and the breaks do not include a warm bed and a hot shower.
Wildfire pollution, not just trees burning. Carbon monoxide is being released and that poisons the red blood cells. Can’t get any oxygen. Nitrogen dioxide dissolves in lungs creating acid.