32 Acres Are Burned in Pair of East County Brush Fires

Two brush fires ignited east county canyons Thursday, one allegedly set by an arsonist and the other by a landowner knocking down weeds.

A reported drunken driver at the site of the Piru Canyon Road blaze was questioned about the fast-moving fire, but the man, who was not identified by authorities, was charged only with driving under the influence of alcohol, Ventura County Fire Investigator Peter Cronk said.

The man will be questioned again today, Cronk said.

A man using a gasoline-powered weed cutter admitted starting the two-acre Black Canyon fire near Simi Valley, but no charges were filed, Cronk said.

The man, whose name was withheld by authorities, suffered burns to his hands but refused medical treatment, Ventura County fire dispatcher C. Tinsley said.

However, neighbors of the man took him to Simi Valley Hospital, where he was treated for first- and second-degree burns that he suffered from trying to fight the 2:15 p.m. fire.

The man owns a vacant, 14-acre hillside lot in the 1000 block of Black Canyon Road and was trying to meet county weed-abatement requirements by the June 1 deadline, said Jerilu Harvey, whose home is adjacent to his property.

“He came running down the hill telling me to call 911,” Harvey said. “The fire came to the edge of my driveway. Luckily, the wind was blowing away from the house. The fire did stop where he had already finished clearing brush.”

Holly Huff, who owns a home nearby, said the man tried to fight the blaze before fire crews and a swarm of helicopters arrived.

“He wanted to fight it and get it out,” Huff said. “The poor guy was a nervous wreck.”

The fire briefly threatened some homes, but it was quickly controlled, then extinguished by 3:40 p.m., officials said.

Suspected as arson, the 30-acre Piru Canyon Road blaze near the dam at Lake Piru was beaten down by a quick and massive response by Ventura County firefighters.

The 1:07 p.m. grass fire was fanned by strong winds and moved rapidly up a steep hill covered with brush, said Sandi Wells, Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman.

Ten engines, three water-carrying helicopters and two Air National Guard air tankers were sent to the scene, Wells said.

Hand crews stretched fire hoses along the ridge as the fire settled into a very steep canyon.

About 4 p.m., the air tankers and helicopters were able to douse the head of the blaze while hand crews worked on the few remaining hot spots.

The cause of the blaze--which closed Piru Canyon Road until about 6 p.m., when the fire was extinguished--is still under investigation, Cronk said, but arson is suspected.

The weather today and throughout the weekend should aid firefighters, with light sea breezes and fog in the mornings at the coast.

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Correspondent Scott Hadly contributed to this story.