Small brush fire along Highway 33 north of Ventura

Firefighters responded to a spot fire along Highway 33 north of Ventura late Saturday morning.

The incident was reported shortly after 11:35 a.m. in the 6700 block of North Ventura Avenue, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. The site is near the traffic ramps for Casitas Vista Road, between Ventura and the community of Casitas Springs.

Crews responding to the Casitas Fire, as the incident has been named, described finding a 100-foot-by-50-foot spot fire between the 33 and Ventura Avenue that was burning in light to medium fuel. Winds of about 15 mph were blowing the flames, but the fire was burning on flat ground, crews said.

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Air tankers were initially requested but were soon canceled. Other equipment including a dozer and a water tender were called off before they arrived. A  county fire department official said in a tweet that five engines and a hand crew were sufficient to tackle the blaze.

Shortly before noon, crews at the scene said they had stopped the fire's forward progress at a quarter of an acre, with firefighters transitioning to mop-up duties. The cause remained under investigation Saturday.

Gretchen Wenner covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at gretchen.wenner@vcstar.com or 805-437-0270.

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