Hill Fire Scorches 4,500 Acres; Containment Grows

AGOURA HILLS, CA – The Hill Fire, which began Thursday afternoon, was estimated to have burned 4,531 acres and is 25-percent contained as of Saturday morning, according to Cal Fire. Approximately 450 structures were threatened Friday, but there was no significant growth throughout the day, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

No evacuations have been lifted as of Saturday morning. Mandatory evacuation areas include: all areas of Camarillo Springs, Point Mugu Naval Base, all areas of the Vallecito Trailer Park, all areas of California State University Channel Islands, and parts of Dos Vientos and South Coast. More than 17,000 people in Ventura County have been evacuated from the Hill Fire, according to fire officials.

Although authorities initially estimated a larger acreage at a previous press briefing with dying winds, aircraft were able to fly overhead and get a more accurate measurement on the breadth of the blaze. Forward progress was halted in some areas and firefighters continue to build and protect those containment lines in some areas, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Approximately 900 firefighters and resources were dedicated to work on the blaze.

"Overall, it's very good news for the Hill Fire," VCFD spokesperson Richard Macklin said.

Governor-elect Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to the Woolsey and Hill fires Thursday. The president and Federal Emergency Management Agency have also granted California's request, submitted Thursday by the governor's office, for a presidential emergency declaration for direct federal assistance to supplement the state and local emergency response to the major wildfires burning in Ventura, Los Angeles and Butte counties.

Firefighters remain focused on defending structures and "life safety," according to a unified command.

The Hill Fire broke out Thursday with the help of strong winds of 30-50 miles per hour in the area. The area continued to experience "extreme fire behavior" and though winds were expected to die down Saturday, the National Weather Service expects gusts to pick up again on Sunday and firefighters will "remain vigilant," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen promised.
Air quality in the area and downwind remained poor, and residents who suffer respiratory issues were advised to "move to areas of clear air."

On Friday, the blaze burned on both sides of the 101 Freeway – in the Hill Canyon area, where the fire began, and across the freeway in the Newbury Park area. Once it jumped the freeway it burned into the "burn scar" of the Springs Fire, slowing it down significantly, officials said. The southern edge stopped north of Portero Road and West of Cal State University Channel Islands, they said.

Check for the most recent road closures here.

Patch staffer Ashley Ludwig contributed to this post; Photo: MALIBU, CA - NOVEMBER 09: Wind-driven flames move across Malibu Creek State Park during the Woolsey Fire on November 9, 2018 near Malibu, California. After a experiencing a mass shooting, residents Thousand Oaks are threatened by the ignition of two nearby dangerous wildfires, including the Woolsey Fire which has reached the Pacific Coast at Malibu. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)