Firefighters battling a devastating blaze that has ravaged at least 130 homes in California reported making progress on Friday, as a change in weather conditions provided a crucial respite. The Mountain Fire, which erupted near Camarillo, outside Los Angeles, had grown to over 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) fueled by hurricane-strength winds that swept through the region earlier this week.
Thousands were forced to flee their homes, many with only minutes to spare, as the unpredictable flames consumed properties at an alarming pace. Robin Wallace, who grew up in a home that was destroyed within minutes of her family’s evacuation, described the harrowing experience: “We were expecting we’d be able to go back and get some things. But of course, that didn’t work out. It was completely gone by the afternoon. It went very quickly.”
Linda Fefferman, another resident, recounted her escape, emphasizing the urgency she felt when the smell of smoke filled the air. “I’m trying to load the car with animals and important papers, my oxygen concentrator, and when it got too smoky for me, I knew I had to get out,” she shared with a local broadcaster. A neighbor with a chainsaw helped clear a fallen tree blocking her path, allowing her to escape the rapidly approaching flames. “Nothing is left. It’s gone,” she said with a heavy heart.
Authorities confirmed on Thursday that initial assessments revealed the loss of at least 132 homes, with 88 more sustaining damage. The affected area, home to approximately 30,000 people, saw roughly 10,000 residents ordered to evacuate. The blaze, which ignited on Wednesday morning, spread with alarming speed, fueled by the fierce seasonal Santa Ana winds from California’s desert interior. Gusts reaching 80 miles (130 kilometers) per hour pushed smoke and flames sideways, creating a terrifying spectacle of fire engulfing brush, orchards, and homes.
However, a shift in the weather brought a glimmer of hope on Friday. Meteorologists predicted the strong winds would not return for at least a few days, providing much-needed relief for the exhausted firefighters. The change in weather conditions enabled fire crews to make substantial progress, according to Nick Cleary of the Ventura County Fire Department, with 14 percent of the fire’s perimeter now contained. “Today on the fire, we had a very successful day,” he told reporters, noting that a mild onshore breeze brought some much-needed humidity.
More than 2,400 personnel, along with a fleet of engines, bulldozers, and aircraft, are engaged in the ongoing firefighting efforts. “We need to keep using these resources with this advantageous weather that we’re having to get in there and make sure we’re mopping everything… so we’re not going to have any secondary starts,” Cleary emphasized.
California Governor Gavin Newsom visited the area on Thursday and declared a state of emergency, a move that will expedite the allocation of resources. President Joe Biden spoke with Newsom and local elected official Kelly Long on Friday, expressing concern and offering support to the affected communities. The President also approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Utility companies in the region, taking a common precautionary measure during high wind events, have shut off electricity to thousands of customers to prevent toppled power lines from sparking additional wildfires. California has experienced two relatively wet years, leading to an abundance of vegetation that has since dried out and become extremely flammable after a prolonged hot summer. While fires, drought, and strong winds are common features of the California landscape, scientists warn that human-caused climate change is altering weather patterns, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic events like this fire.
