Two Major Fires Burning in Ventura County

View of the Woolsey Fire (Photo: LA County Fire Department)

By edhat staff

Santa Barbara area firefighters are helping to fight two large brush fires burning in Ventura County that sparked on Thursday.

Hill Fire

At 2:04 pm Thursday a brush fire ignited in the area of Hill Canyon in the Santa Rosa Valley, now called the Hill Fire.

Officials stated the fast-moving blaze quickly blew into the Newbury Park area and jumped the Highway 101 within 12 minutes. Winds were blowing between 25-30 mph and pushed the fire across the freeway onto Conejo Mountain toward the Pacific Coast Highway.

Intense winds fueled the #WoolseyFire overnight. Information regarding the fire, which started in Ventura County, can be found at: https://t.co/bHvQyeV2kG – Interactive Map for LA City: https://t.co/6zF8tupXK2 pic.twitter.com/reXJ7PFtDG

— Erik Scott (@PIOErikScott) November 9, 2018

As of Thursday evening, it was burning above Cal State University Channel Islands, in the footprint of the 2013 Springs Fire which burned 24,000 acres.

The Ventura County Fire Department reports structures, outbuildings, and vehicles have been damaged and destroyed. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and has been transported to a local hospital.

Firefighters are challenged by residents moving about evacuation areas and high traffic as they follow the fire front.

The latest numbers estimate the Hill fire has burned over 10,000 acres.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for the Point Mugu Naval Base, Camarillo Springs, Vallecito Trailer Park, California State University Channel Islands, Dos Vientos (All areas outlined on map below) and the South Coast (all areas outlined on map below).

Woolsey Fire

On Thursday at 2:25 p.m., a second brush fire ignited in the area of Rocketdyne, south of the City of Simi Valley, called the Woolsey Fire.

Driven by 50 to 60 mph wind gusts the brush fire is zero percent contained and also jumped Highway 101 near Chesebro Road in Agoura Hills on Friday morning. The fire was burning on the south side of the freeway in areas that were evacuated hours earlier.

Approximately 75,000 homes are under evacuation orders throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Evacuations in Hidden Hills and all portions in the City of Los Angeles, have been revised from mandatory to voluntary. Voluntary evacuations have been added in Ventura County for Lake Sherwood and the area south of Highway 101 and north of Potrero Rd. between Westlake Blvd. and Wendy Dr. in Thousand Oaks.

Fire officials state a significant number structures have been damaged or destroyed and is estimated to be over 8,000 acres.

Fire has jumped the 101 freeway at Liberty Canyon and is well established on the south side of the freeway.Avoid 101 of commuting, large back-ups behind closure pic.twitter.com/1BbrDUPgSj

— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) November 9, 2018