Prompts Evacuations Amid Santa Ana Winds
A fast-moving brush fire erupted near Balcom Canyon and Bradley roads in the hills around Moorpark and Somis, scorching hundreds of acres within minutes and triggering mandatory evacuations. The fire, fueled by intense Santa Ana winds, ignited shortly before 9 a.m. near the 7900 block of Bradley Road, quickly growing to 1,000 acres and prompting a large-scale response.
Evacuation Orders and Shelter Information
Authorities have issued evacuation orders for:
- North Highway 118 to the ridgeline, west to Saticoy Country Club
- Saticoy Country Club to Balcom Canyon Road
Evacuees can seek shelter at Padre Serra Parish, located at 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo. For ongoing updates, Ventura County residents are encouraged to visit vcemergency.com or call the hotline at 805-465-6650.
Road and Highway Closures
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has reported the following road closures due to the fire and heavy smoke:
- Southbound Highway 118 at Tierra Rejada
- Southbound Highway 118 at Lewis Road
- Southbound Highway 118 at Wells Road
- Balcom at Stockton
- Las Posas at Lewis
Firefighting Efforts and Red Flag Warning
Ventura County Fire has deployed two task forces to tackle this fast-moving blaze and prepare for potential additional fires in the area, with strong winds and dry conditions worsening the situation. A red flag warning is in effect, indicating elevated fire risk due to the hazardous weather conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Firefighter Andrew Dowd, spokesman for Ventura County Fire, emphasized the challenging conditions caused by the strong Santa Ana winds, which have significantly accelerated the spread of the fire.
