Ventura County, California - Wildfire - 5/2/2013 - Ongoing

[peterose313 345]

Date: 5/2/2013

Time: 0718 - Ongoing

Incident Type: Wildfire

District: Ventura County

Location: Ventura County - Camarillo Springs

Units: Ventura County Fire, Cal Fire, Ventura City Fire, Oxnard Fire, Santa Paula, Naval Base Ventura County Fire, Orange County Fire, LA County Fire, City of LA Fire, Burbank Fire, Ventura County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, 8 helos (peak fire), 6 fixed wing air tankers (peak fire), Red Cross, Numerous Ambulance Companies, 212 Fire Engines, Dozers

Frequency: Ventura County Fire Department

Weather Conditions: Warm, Dry, Windy

Reporters: Ventura County Fire Department, peterose313

Description: Major wildfire burning has consumed 8,000 acres in 8 hours. Fire is 10% contained. Slow lane of Highway 101 is closed for fire activity. More than 200 ff's have responded to the fire. This is 1 of 2 wildfires in the area. The other is east of this in Riverside County. There was also a 3.2 magnitude earthquake nearby in Channel Islands region. A 3.5 magnitude was registered in Baja, California on 5/3 as well. A new fire has sprung up diverting 3 of the air tankers. Base camp is set up at Freedom Park in Camarillo.

0718: Wildfire burning near Camarillo Spring on the Conejo Grade. Currently at 10 acres and growing. Crews are protecting the structures in Camarillo Springs.

0732: Fire is now at 30 acres and spreading

0802: 2 air tankers and one additional helicopter expected to arrive by 0830. Additional air support en route as well. Old Conejo Road now has traffic control and is open to residents only.

0813: Now at 100 acres with 0% containment. Terrain is steep and rocky

0832: Fire being attacked by air and land. Planes are dropping retardant. Still 0% contained

0915: Residents being asked to prepare for possibility of evacuations.

0948: Dos Vientos residents being advised to evacuate due to the fire moving towards Newbury Park.

1002: Cal State University Channels Islands being evacuated. 20 engines being sent to the campus for structure protection

1020: Spring fire now at 2,000 acres and spreading

1207: 500+ ff's now on ground and or en route. Residents being asked to watch for airborne embers

1238: Fire is now at 6,500 acres and growing. Airplanes have been grounded due to weather conditions. 3 helos still flying

1315: Pacific Coast Highway closed b/t Las Posas Road and the Ventura/LA County line.

1432: Now upwards of 600 fire and law enforcement assigned to the fire. 96 engines, 6 helos, 5 dozers, dozens of hand crews fighting the fire.

1647: Smoke advisory now in place. Smoke coming from the agricultural buildings at the college (Cal State University Channels). Evacuation orders in place for that area, anyone evacuating should avoid the smoke.

1750: Fire Depts from all over Southern California, Ventura County Sheriff's Office, CHP, numerous ambulance companies, Red Cross, and various other agencies all operating at this fire. Fire is at 6,500+ acres burning and spreading.

1952: 8,000 acres now burned, 10% contained, 2,000 homes threatened, 15 sustained damage but none destroyed, 925 personnel committed to the fire, Roads closed b/t Las Posas and Yerba Buena, Yerba Buena Road, Deer Creek Road. Mandatory evacuations for: Sycamore Canyon, La Jolla Canyon, and Brome Ranch. Residents in Dos Vientos are allowed in with ID.

2126: Fire has now reached the Pacific Coast Highway. Fire came out at Sycamore Canyon. Residents in Sycamore Canyon requested to evacuate immediately.

5/3/2013

0345: Cal Fire Team 5 will reconvene at 0600 hours

0751: Fire is now at 10,000 acres and growing. Containment unchanged, 4,000 homes threatened and 15 damaged but none destroyed. No ff or civilian injuries reported, 954 personnel o/s with more en route.

1116: There are now 8 helos dropping water and 6 fixed wing air tankers dropping retardant.

1400: Naval Base Ventura County asking for structure protection in Las Posas Road area after a wind shift

1500: 3 air tankers being diverted to a new fire. Request for additional tankers in place.

1540: Command requesting the PIO remove the media from the road at least. They're significantly interfering with firefighting operations. Numerous horse ranches that have not been evacuated in St. Francis Estates.

1545: New spot fire of 100 acres in the green in Division F. Asking for another engine strike team

1616: Fire has grown to 18,000 acres and 20% contained.

1700: Pacific Coast Highway is now reopened to traffic both ways. Many cross streets remained closed.

1815: Due to the threat of rockslides, the PCH did not re-open and will remain closed between Las Posas and Yerba Buena

1838: Fire has grown to 28,000 acres with 20% containment. A concentrated focus of ff activities will be Yerba Buena Road area overnight

1911: Due to lack of light, air attacks have been suspended for the night. Nighttime ground operations will commence at dark.

5/42013

0735: Fire still at 28k acres, containment at 30%, 4,000 homes threatened, 15 damaged none destroyed, 1,895 personnel involved, 2 injuries (1 ff and 1 civilian) from a traffic collision away from the fire, PCH is now completely open

5/5/2013

0806: Fire remains at 28,000 acres, 5 ff injuries (all minor. 2 from falls, 3 debris in eyes), 1,856 personnel involved, containment now at 60% thanks to overnight crews, 212 fire engines and 6 helos. Demobilization process expected to begin today and some ff's will be sent home or to other fires.

5/6/2013

0724: Contained at 28,000 acres, 80% contained, full containment expected May 7, 8 ff injuries, 0 homes threatened and or destroyed, no significant fire behavior observed tonight. Rain in the forecast to help relieve crews/the fire.

Ventura County Fire Department (maps and photos included)

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/us/california-wildfire/index.html

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-camarillo-brush-fire-20130502,7025848,7991967.photogallery?index=la-hp-inline-camarillo-springs-fire-pictures-2-004

Twitter: #SpringsFire

NOTE: MOST TIMES/UPDATES FROM THE VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Edited May 6, 2013 by peterose313