Rubaiya Karim
On Monday, June 16, 2025, two separate vegetation fires broke out in Ventura County, prompting firefighting crews to respond and work through the night.
The first fire broke out near the Santa Clara River south of Santa Paula at 3:20 pm, and the second near Torrey Canyon Road south of Piru at 6:20 pm.
Highlights
- On Monday, June 16, 2025, two vegetation fires occurred in Ventura County.
- The first blaze was reported at 3:20 pm near the Santa Clara River south of Santa Paula.
- The second, bigger fire broke out near Torrey Canyon Road later that evening.
Howe Fire: South of Piru
The fire that started in the south of Piru, named the Howe Fire, that broke out around 6:20 pm on Monday near Torrey Canyon Road and East Guiberson Road. Previously, the fire was estimated to be 4 to 5 acres. However, the fire quickly expanded to approximately 40 acres by 6:50 pm, as per Ventura County fire department officials.
#HoweFire – A vegetation fire is burning in steep terrain south of the community of Piru and the Santa Clara River. The fire is estimated at approximately 40 acres. A second alarm has been requested, along with air tankers and additional helicopters.
High-tension power lines… pic.twitter.com/kJueQvNAUs
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) June 17, 2025
As of 8:40 pm, the fire was contained to the 40-acre perimeter. No containment figures have been made available to the public as of Monday night. However, firefighting efforts are underway and expected to continue until the early hours of Tuesday.
Mild onshore winds drove smoke toward the east, leading to a decline in air quality in the areas surrounding the fire. Officials have urged residents in the area to avoid the immediate vicinity of the firefighting efforts.
Maria Fire: South of Santa Paula
On Monday afternoon, the Ventura County Fire Department was also summoned to help put out a fire in the Santa Clara River bottom, south of the city of Santa Paula. This fire, named Maria Fire, started at 3:20 pm and was estimated to be 5 to 6 acres but grew to cover between 10 and 20 acres before the firefighting crew was able to contain it by 7 pm.
#MariaFire – A brush fire is burning in the Santa Clara River bottom, south of the City of Santa Paula, being driven east by onshore winds. Over 130 firefighters are on scene, supported by two helicopters, with a third mutual aid helicopter requested. Crews are actively engaged… pic.twitter.com/Ie2VhctjFG
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) June 16, 2025
Despite containment, crews continued mop-up operations throughout the evening to ensure no hotspot flare-ups occurred. An evacuation warning was issued for MARIA – ZONE 1, on the south side of the Santa Clara River, from the golf course north to 12th Street. However, it was lifted as conditions stabilized.
Ventura County residents are urged to stay updated about the local air quality through AirNow and check the Ventura County Sheriff’s Emergency Dashboard for the latest updates on these fires, additional evacuation warnings, and road closures. Furthermore, weather forecasts, as well as wind and fire condition updates, can be accessed through the National Weather Service website.
Firebugs or vagrants cooking meals unsafely–anyone using fire carelessly–scare the bejeesus out of me. So many of the cataclysmic un”natural” fires stared that way and went on to destroy so much, bring ruin and cause lung damage from smoke & fumes to people far away.