Small Brush Fire Contained Near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard

OXNARD, Calif. — Firefighters quickly contained a small brush fire near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard on Monday afternoon, preventing it from spreading further despite strong winds in the area.

The Harbor Fire, as it was named, was first reported at 12:40 p.m. near the intersection of North Harbor Boulevard and West Gonzales Road. By 1:30 p.m., crews had established a wet line around the blaze, which measured approximately a quarter-acre. The fire was contained within boundaries formed by the ocean on one side and firefighter efforts on the other, according to Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for Ventura County Fire.

No structures were threatened, and no evacuations were ordered. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters worked for about two and a half hours, wrapping up operations by 3:15 p.m. At its peak, seven units were assigned to the scene, with additional resources requested but later canceled as the situation stabilized. Incident command reported multiple spot fires, including a 40-foot by 40-foot blaze that moved rapidly toward the ocean before being contained.

The coastal campground at McGrath State Beach has been closed since July 2019 due to chronic flooding, according to the California State Parks website. The area’s closure likely minimized the risk to visitors during the fire.

Strong winds in the region, which were expected to subside by Tuesday afternoon, posed a challenge but did not hinder containment efforts. By 3:00 p.m., only one unit remained on scene to monitor the area.