Blaze Threatens Canyon Homes

A brush fire Friday afternoon raced across 70 acres of Matilija Canyon in Los Padres National Forest, coming dangerously close to more than half a dozen homes and shutting down California 33 for nearly an hour.

The blaze, which started about 1:30 p.m. on North Matilija Canyon Road, scorched a pickup truck and a shed, according to fire officials.

Fire officials, who were investigating the cause of the blaze, estimated that the fire would be contained by 9 p.m.

Ventura County firefighters and U.S. Forest Service crews arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving a resident’s 911 call.

The speedy arrival, wind direction and nearly 20 engines on site helped firefighters prevent nearby homes from burning.

“We’re really lucky in that we had all our available resources,” said county Fire Battalion Chief Keith Gurrola, noting that crews were stretched thin fighting other fires four days ago. “Since the wind was blowing in a southern direction, the fire burned away from the structures.”

Residents in four homes were asked to evacuate, but other residents stayed, hosing down their roofs and packing their belongings in case the fire turned in their direction.

“We were lucky because of the wind, I think,” said Skip Cooper, who opened his corrals to let his three horses run loose in case the fire came too close.

Because steep and rough terrain on the mountainside hindered fire crews from reaching the blaze, helicopters and air tankers dropped thousands of gallons of water and fire retardant to combat the wildfire.

Heli-tankers, which can carry up to 2,400 gallons of water, flew to nearby Matilija Reservoir and had dropped approximately 30,000 gallons of water on the flames by late afternoon.

Firefighters scaled the mountainside in sweltering 90-degree heat throughout the afternoon, but, with ample resources, were able to take breaks periodically.

Matilija Canyon Road has about two dozen homes, tucked among pine trees, eucalyptus, sagebrush, chaparral and rugged mountains.

The fire burned within a quarter mile of the Ventura County Bird Club on Matilija Road, causing some tense moments for Karen and Bill Palmer, who own about 150 birds.

“The smoke kills the birds, but right now the wind is blowing the other way,” said Karen Palmer.

Canyon resident Chris Roper was in downtown Ojai when she saw the first signs of fire near her home.

“I saw the smoke and all the trucks go by, and I thought it looked a little too close to our place,” said Roper, adding that she is familiar with the perils of canyon living.

“Since 1985, there’s only been a few smaller fires in the canyons behind us,” she said. “But the 1985 fire was pretty bad. That one hit all over Ojai.”

Resident Andrea Connor, who moved to the area four months ago, called 911 when she noticed puffs of smoke near her home.

Unlike Cooper, who stayed near his trailer throughout the fire, Connor packed her car with her baby, four cats and dog and took off down the road.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Connor, who had returned in late afternoon. “I knew that there was a danger, but we won’t move. We can handle this and probably a lot more.”

California Highway Patrol officials closed California 33 from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m., causing frustration for some residents.

One man pleaded to no avail with a CHP officer to let him through because his mother was at home alone in the canyon.