Edhat Staff
VCFD, LAFD, and LACOFD have made great progress on the Peak Fire and are beginning to release resources (Photo: Ventura County Fire Department)
By edhat staff
Ventura County firefighters are now battling two new wildfires that sparked late Monday morning affecting State Route 118.
Just after 11:15 a.m. Monday, State Route 118 in Ventura County was shut down in both directions between Yosemite and Topanga Canyon for a new wildfire.
Named the Peak Fire, it was almost burning on the 118 Freeway in the area of Rocky Peak. It burned about 105 acres, moving fast in the hills south of the freeway, but fire crews were able to halt forward progress shortly before 1:00 p.m.
An evacuation order was issued by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department for residents in the Box Canyon and Lake Manor areas. Ventura County fire officials also released an order for residents in the area of Kuehner Drive to shelter in place.
California Highway Patrol is stating the westbound lanes of SR-118 have been reopened.
#PeakFire: A brush fire is burning near the 118 in the Santa Susana Pass. KTLA viewer Jonny Havard was evacuating his home as the Skycrane dropped fire retardant on the mountain behind his neighborhood in Simi Valley. https://t.co/OcfMGlrJ5C pic.twitter.com/ZdDGkqffrN
— KTLA (@KTLA) November 12, 2018
The second wildfire fire, named the Lynn Fire, broke out near residential neighborhoods in Thousand Oaks and moved toward Hillcrest and Ventu Park Road. Structures were threatened but firefighters were making “good progress” and had support from water-dropping helicopters.
About 11:45 a.m. Monday, fire officials said nearby homes were no longer threatened and the fire was holding at 5 acres (downgraded from an initial report of 15 acres).
#Lynnfire: Holding at less than 5 acres. Initial threat to homes is gone due to firefighters on the ground and aircraft dropping water and the pink gel. @VCFD pic.twitter.com/U3H2jqCjIu
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) November 12, 2018
