Latest updates: Brush fires, cancellations, wind
Gretchen Wenner
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Ventura County braced for another anxious day Friday as powerful Santa Ana winds continue to blow and a fire in northwest Los Angeles County threatened to move into the area.
Power outages: The Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services has an updated map of outage areas, as well as those still being monitored for possible power shutoffs.
School closures: Check here for our ongoing list of school closures.
Latest updates:
Saturday 8 a.m: Continue to follow updates throughout the day on Saturday here.
9:30 p.m. Ventura County Public Health issued a smoke health advisory. People with heart or lung disease are at particular risk. Health officials urge residents to stay indoors as much as possible, especially in buildings with filtered air; keep windows and doors closed if possible; run your home or car air conditioner on recycle or recirculate; and follow your doctor's recommendations about taking asthma medications.
Officials said not to rely on “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores that are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust, rather than the small particles found in wildfire smoke.
Health officials said free particulate respirators (N-95 masks) will be available to the public. Visit http://www.vcemergency.com for distribution locations.
9:19 p.m. An earlier report of a possible brush fire in the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge turned out to be a false alarm. Ventura County Copter 7 flew over the site and discovered nothing but routine oil-field flaring operations, which are used to burn off flammable gases released in energy production. All dispatched resources are being released.
8:53 p.m. Due to the ongoing fire emergency, a Ventura County Fire Department open house that was planned for Saturday has been canceled. The open house was to take place at Fire Station 29 in Santa Paula, the second such open house the agency planned in observation of Fire Prevention Week.
5:45 p.m. The of fires in Riverside and Los Angeles counties prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. A statement from his office cited "the effects of several fires, including the Saddleridge, Eagle, Sandalwood, Reche and Wolf fires, which have destroyed structures, threatened homes and critical infrastructure, and caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents."
5:30 p.m. California Highway Patrol announced L.A.-area closures for the Saddleridge fire have been lifted for most Highway 5 and Highway 405. Full freeway closures remain in place at the following locations:
- Highway 14 between Highway 5 and Newhall Avenue
- Highway 210 between Highway 5 and Highway 118
- Highway 5 at Highway 14 truck routes
- Eastbound Highway 118 connector to westbound Highway 210
- Northbound and southbound Highway 5 connector to Highway 210
- Northbound and southbound Highway 5 connector to Highway 14
5:00 p.m. The Olivas Fire is now 80% contained and remaining at 200 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Additionally, containment for the Wendy Fire rose to 60% by Friday afternoon.
4:35 p.m. Caltrans released an updated list of LA-area highway closures in place due to the Saddleridge fire. Southbound lanes of Highway 5 are now open at Calgrove Boulevard. The remaining closures are in place:
- Northbound 5 at 118
- Southbound 14 at Newhall Avenue
- Westbound 210 at 118
- Northbound 405 at 118
- Eastbound 118 connector to westbound 210
- Eastbound 118 connector to northbound 405
- Southbound 5 connector to eastbound 210
4:08 p.m. With freeways across Southern California clogged due to wildfire-related closures, a stalled semi caused a problem on one alternate route in Ventura County. The stalled truck closed northbound lanes of Balcom Canyon Road near Bradley Road.
3:15 p.m. If you were planning to hit trails near the Wendy Fire burn area outside Newbury Park this weekend, some won't be open.
Rancho Sierra Vista and the Satwiwa Native American Culture Center – where the fire burned overnight Thursday – will stay closed through Saturday, the National Park Service said. All Saturday events there have been cancelled. The park and surrounding hiking trails are expected to reopen at 6 a.m. Sunday.
The adjacent Point Mugu State Park is open if park-goers access trails from Pacific Coast Highway.
2:40 p.m. Officials advised Simi Valley residents, among others, to be ready for a possible resurgence of the Saddleridge Fire.
“It appears there’s a lull of activity there but don’t be fooled. There’s a lot of open fire line. There’s a lot of potential for continued growth of this fire,” said Dave Richardson, a chief deputy of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, at an afternoon news conference.
“Ventura County is at potential threat if the fire gets up and continues to progress in that direction," Richardson said, responding to a question.
1:40 p.m. Victoria Avenue has reopened, according to California Highway Patrol.
1:30 p.m: The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District issued air quality alerts for Ventura, Camarillo and Port Hueneme due to the Olivas Fire. Another alert was issued for Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks due to the Saddleridge Fire.
1 p.m: The status quo for the Olivas Fire continues: Victoria Avenue remains closed between Olivas Park Drive and Gonzales Road; the fire is about 200 acres and 50 percent contained; progress has been stopped.
Firefighters are doing well, but a "heavy time commitment" is expected before the fire is fully contained, officials said.
12:30 p.m: Edison has restored power to 56 customers in an area near Moorpark. Their power was shutoff Thursday morning, some of first lines de-energized by the utility company because of windy, dry conditions.
Noon: Roughly 700 Ventura County residents have been without power since shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday when Edison first started de-energizing lines.
The number of so-called Public Safety Power Shutoffs multiplied throughout the day. By Friday morning, a dozen local circuits and thousands of residents were without power. Two were wind-related outages and the rest were preventative shutdowns.
About 2,900 had been without electricity for more than 24 hours, including in areas north of Moorpark, unincorporated areas near Simi Valley and parts of Fillmore and Camarillo.
As of now, officials say they have no estimate for when power will be restored.
11:30 a.m: Initial indications are that the Olivas Fire was human caused, said Doug Miser, a battalion chief for the Ventura Fire Department. A homeless encampment lies near the fire's starting point, but it wasn't immediately clear whether someone from the camp or from elsewhere ignited the blaze.
As of late Friday morning, small spot fires were forming in the river bottom that were difficult for firefighters to attack. All of the city's fire resources were sent to the blaze.
"Every single piece of equipment is on that fire," he said.
11:10 a.m: Ventura fire officials say the progress of the Olivas Fire, including spot fires, has been stopped. Spot fires are no longer moving toward beaches.
The National Weather Service extended the red flag warning to 6 p.m. Saturday. The warning indicates elevated fire danger due to strong, gusty winds and dry air.
11 a.m: Estimated size of the Olivas Fire is about 200 acres. That includes the main fire and spot fires.
10:55 a.m: Highway 118 east of Simi Valley is now open in both directions, CHP officials in Los Angeles County reported.
There are still LA-area closures related to the Saddleridge Fire. Here is the latest Caltrans list:
- SB 5 at Calgrove Bl
- NB 5 at Rte 118
- SB 14 at Newhall
- WB 210 at 118
- NB 405 at 118
- EB 118 connector to WB 210
- EB 118 connector to NB 405
- NB/SB 5 to EB 118
10:40 a.m: There was a homeless camp near the start of the Olivas Fire, but officials don't know what role, if any, it played in the blaze, said Ventura City Fire Chief David Endaya.
The blaze sparked up around 4 a.m. in the Santa Clara River area next to Buenaventura Golf Course. Strong winds fanned flames.
As of midmorning, spot fires were located on the west side of Victoria Avenue and were moving toward beaches and away from any structures, Endaya said.
“We’re really happy we’re gaining progress on it,” he said.
10:30 a.m: In Simi Valley, eastbound Highway 118 reopened earlier at Kuehner Drive. Portions of I-5, I-405 and the 210 remain closed in Los Angeles County.
10:25 a.m: Meanwhile, back on the Highway 126 corridor in Fillmore: the traffic signal at Highway 126 and A Street is out, which is contributing to the backup there as motorists are diverted from I-5.
A Street continues south of the city as Highway 23, connecting Fillmore to the Moorpark area and Highway 118.
10:20 a.m: Victoria Avenue remains closed between Olivas Park Drive and Gonzales Road.
There were earlier reports that Oxnard police had reopened Victoria, but officials say the road remains closed to the general public.
10:15 a.m: The Olivas Fire in Ventura and Oxnard has burned about 155 acres and is 50 percent contained.
There are currently no threats to homes or other buildings. The Santa Clara River bottom and agricultural areas are still impacted.
10 a.m: Also on Highway 126, the traffic signal in Piru at Torrey Road/Main Street is out, according to the CHP's Moorpark office.
The detour-related backup through Ventura County (from the closure of I-5) extends along Highway 23 from Fillmore into the Moorpark area.
9:50 a.m: Traffic on Highway 126 is backing up in Ventura County, as expected. Motorists on Interstate 5 are being diverted to the 126 because the Saddleridge Fire in Los Angeles County has closed I-5 in the Santa Clarita area.
Maps indicate the westbound 126 is heavily backed up from about Piru to State Route 23 in Fillmore due to the fire-related detour.
9:40 a.m: Oxnard police have reopened Victoria Avenue and traffic is coming over the bridge, reports from the scene indicate. (Update: the road was not reopened to the general public at this time.
9:35 a.m: A fire official at the scene roughly estimates the original Olivas Fire at 50 acres with perhaps 10 percent containment.
He estimates the related spot fire is at 50 percent containment.
9:30 a.m: There have been several reports of power lines down this morning as winds continue to gust, as was the case Thursday.
9:05 a.m: Air Squad 8, a Ventura County helicopter unit, is on scene at the Olivas Fire for an aerial attack.
9 a.m: Winds are currently blowing the Saddleridge Fire in Los Angeles county to the south, away from the Simi Valley area, according to Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath.
But equipment is staging in the Simi Valley area for structure protection in case winds change direction, he said.
8:55 a.m: Firefighters at the scene report the main threat from the Olivas Fire is in the area toward Harbor Boulevard.
Portions of the River Ridge golf course in Oxnard, where voluntary evacuation notices have been issued, are less active.
8:50 a.m: A small spot fire near the Pierpont Inn in Ventura was quickly stomped out.
The Wendy Fire near Newbury Park is now 50 percent contained.
8:40 a.m: The National Weather Service has extended the red flag warning until Saturday afternoon due to low humidity. The warning indicates heightened fire risk.
Across Southern California and Ventura County, humidity is in the single digits.
Winds are gusting at about 30 miles per hour along the Ventura County coast, though in Los Angeles County gusts have reached almost 60 miles per hour.
Winds are expected to die down here late Friday afternoon or early evening.
8:30 a.m: The Olivas Fire has spotted west of Victoria Avenue.
"We're trying to get our arms around it," Capt. Jeremy Henderson of the Ventura Fire Department told Star reporter Tom Kisken.
But there are't enough resources.
"We have too many fires in Southern California," Henderson said.
8:15 a.m: As Victoria Avenue remains closed between Gonazales Road and Olivas Park Drive due to the nearby fire, traffic on northbound Victoria has backed up in Oxnard between Gonzalez and Fifth Street.
8 a.m: The Victoria Avenue bridge over the Santa Clara River will be closed for a few hours, fire officials say.
The Olivas Fire is about 25 acres and zero percent contained.
In Newbury Park, the Wendy Fire is 91 acres and 25 percent contained.
The Saddleridge Fire in Los Angeles County is not yet impacting Ventura County.
7:50 a.m: At least some customers who had power proactively shut off by Edison Thursday remained without power overnight and into Friday morning. Preventative outages impacted parts of the Camarillo, Fillmore, Simi Valley, Piru and Moorpark areas.
7:45 a.m: The three spot fires from the Olivas Fire are currently estimated at 15-20 acres, 5 acres and a 50-by-50 spot fire that is under control.
7:40 a.m: Moorpark College is closed today.
7:35 a.m: Firefighters are working three fire fronts now as the Olivas Fire has become more active. The blaze started around 4 a.m. in the Santa Clara River bottom near the Buenaventura Golf Course near Olivas Park Drive and Harbor Boulevard.
7:25 a.m: The Olivas Fire is kicking up with morning winds. Officials are discussing voluntary evacuations for an enclave of homes between Gonzalez Road and Victoria Avenue due to possible ember showers. Firefighters are reporting spotting, with at least two spot fires active outside the main blaze.
7 a.m.: Simi Valley Unified School District announced all schools would be closed because of potential power outages, closure of the 118 Freeway and the Sylmar Fire.
7 a.m.: A fire is burning near Olivas Park Drive near the Olivas Links golf course in Ventura. Firefighters requested that California Highway Patrol and Oxnard Police Department shut down Victoria Avenue in the area.
Overnight: A fire that started Thursday night in Sylmar jumped two freeways northwest of Los Angeles overnight Friday and forced the evacuation of more than 13,000 homes. No evacuation orders are in effect for Simi Valley, according to Ventura County emergency officials, but a shelter has been set up at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center, 5005 E. Los Angeles Ave.
Thousands evacuate:Saddleridge fire erupts overnight north of LA, 4,600 acres