Costly Moorpark blaze is contained
As firefighters worked Tuesday to fully contain a wildfire that ripped through Ventura County this week, an official put damage to the agricultural industry at $2.9 million.
The blaze that began Sunday on rural land north of Moorpark had consumed 214 acres of citrus and avocado orchards, and 1,500 acres of hay as of Tuesday, said Earl McPhail, the county’s agricultural commissioner.
A Somis nursery lost most of its equipment and plant stock, McPhail told the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Santa Ana winds gusting up to 70 mph Sunday blew flames so low to the ground that mulch around the trees ignited in one avocado orchard, McPhail said.
“It was just like a wick,” he said.
Officials said the fire was fully contained at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The so-called Shekell fire began early Sunday and burned 13,600 acres as it moved south, destroying five homes north of Moorpark and several other structures, including a warehouse.
With the $1.2-billion agriculture industry’s importance to the local economy in mind, firefighters worked hard to protect crops and ranches, Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper told the supervisors. On Sunday, though, winds from the north were blowing so hard that the flames moved sideways through orchards, scarcely stopping to burn the trees, he said.
“This fire was so quick that it was more like a sunburn on the trees,” Roper said.
Also Tuesday, Moorpark Mayor Patrick Hunter announced that a community-wide fund for victims of the fire had been established.
Contributions may be made to the Moorpark Fire Fund, c/o the Rotary Club of Moorpark, P.O. Box 172, Moorpark, CA 93020-0172.
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