Ventura County Battles Multiple Brush Fires Amid Santa Ana Winds

Ventura County firefighters worked tirelessly Wednesday to contain multiple brush fires fueled by intense Santa Ana winds, which have created dangerous fire conditions across Southern California. The fires, including the Viewline Fire in Simi Valley and the Olivas Fire near Ventura, burned several acres but were largely contained by late afternoon, officials said.

The Viewline Fire, reported shortly before 3 p.m. in the 2800 block of Madera Road, burned 3 to 5 acres of medium to heavy brush. Over 100 firefighters, aided by helicopter water drops, stopped the fire’s forward progress within an hour. No structures were threatened, and no injuries were reported, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Meanwhile, the Olivas Fire, which ignited near the Santa Clara River bottom around 8 a.m., burned approximately 28 acres before being contained. The fire, located near Olivas Park Drive and Harbor Boulevard, prompted the evacuation of a nearby homeless encampment. One person was transported to a hospital with minor injuries, officials said.

Authorities also responded to the Freddy Fire, a small blaze near Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Highway in Los Angeles County, just across the Ventura County line. The fire, which burned about 3 acres, was contained by 1:30 p.m. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.

Santa Ana winds, which gusted up to 80 mph in some areas, exacerbated fire conditions. Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, described the winds as the strongest in over a decade. ‘We haven’t seen a night like last night since 2011,’ Wofford said.

In addition to the fires, more than 50,000 Ventura County residents were without power Wednesday due to Southern California Edison‘s public safety power shutoff program, aimed at preventing wildfires during high-risk conditions. Schools in Santa Paula, Oak Park, and Simi Valley were also closed due to fire danger and power outages.

Firefighters remain on high alert as Santa Ana winds are expected to continue through the week, though not as severe as Tuesday night’s gusts. ‘We are not expecting another overnight like last night in our immediate future,’ Wofford said.