Maria Fire: 10,000 Acres Burned, 20% Contained

SANTA PAULA, CA — An explosive fire dubbed the Maria Fire erupted Thursday night in Ventura County, since growing to almost 10,00 acres and forcing 10,800 people from their homes. By Saturday morning, crews had the blaze 20 percent contained.

The blaze broke out at about 6:15 p.m. atop South Mountain south of Santa Paula, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. It ignited just as the Santa Ana windstorm was dying down, but low humidity and wind gusts of 25 miles per hour combined with bone-dry brush to create explosive fire conditions. More than 2,300 homes are threatened by the blaze, and at least three have been destroyed, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

More than 1,300 firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which was being driven westward down South Mountain under red flag conditions.

"Crews battled to keep the fire away from the area’s orchards and farms," according to the Ventura County Fire Department. "Firefighters also worked to protect essential power lines and communication sites located on South Mountain. Firefighters continue to work on perimeter control and extinguishing hot spots throughout the burn area."

The fire was moving rapidly to the west and the Somis and Saticoy areas are threatened by the blaze, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Smoke from Maria Fire burning in Ventura County can be seen in Calabasas, but is not a threat to Los Angeles County or the area, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills Station, which patrols the area.

A private drone deployed over the fire hampered initial efforts to tackle the blaze from the air Thursday night.

"This created quite a dangerous situation. It's not only illegal but it hampers our firefighting efforts," Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said.

The Maria Fire is several miles northeast of the Easy Fire that broke out Wednesday, burning 1,700 acres. The region endured the worst Santa Ana windstorm in more than a decade this week and has been beset by wildfires including last week's Tick Fire in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys as well as the Getty Fire that destroyed nearly a dozen Brentwood homes this week.

Firefighters from Orange and Los Angeles County have been sent to help battle the Maria Fire.

The Maria Fire's mandatory evacuation boundaries include South Mountain Road to the north and Highway 118 to the south, Los Angeles Avenue to the West and Balcom County Road to the east. In Santa Paula, evacuation orders include homes south of the 126 Freeway, east of Campanula Avenue, west of South Briggs Road and north of Santa Clara River.

ROAD CLOSURES

• South Mountain Road between 12th Street and Balcom Canyon
• Berylwood Rd. at Aggen Rd.
• West La Loma Rd. between Center Rd and Walnut Ave.
• Price Rd. at E. Los Angeles Ave (Hwy 118)
• Clubhouse Drive at E. Los Angeles Ave. (Hwy 118)

SCHOOL CLOSURES

• Mesa Unified School District
• Santa Paula Unified School District

SHELTERS FOR EVACUATED ANIMALS

• Camarillo Community Center, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo
• Camarillo Animal Shelter (Small Animals), 600 Aviation Dr, Camarillo
• Ventura County Fairgrounds (Large Animals), 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
• Earl Warren Showgrounds (Large Animals), 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara

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