Small Blaze Contributes to Traffic Tie-Up

A fire in a stand of eucalyptus trees Saturday near the Santa Clara River sparked a traffic tie-up on the Ventura Freeway as weekend drivers slowed to gawk at the smoke, authorities said.

The blaze began about 3:20 p.m. in debris beneath the trees located on private property north of the Santa Clara River bridge, said Ventura Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Lavery.

The fire singed a 400-by-20-foot area, he said.

Investigators say the blaze may have been caused by a transient’s fire that got out of control.

“There was no one in the area when we arrived,” Lavery said.

Four engines and a water tender from the city were dispatched. Access was difficult for crews, who upon arrival found trash and leaves burning in the area, according to Lavery.

“It took us awhile to get water in there,” he said. “It’s so dense we just poured lots and lots of water on it.”

As the Ventura fire was being mopped up, motorists paused to gawk at a spectacular sight as the sun set in the evening sky. Ventura County fire officials said haze from the Ventura fire had mingled with fog as well as smoke from another blaze, in L.A.’s San Francisquito Canyon.

Fire crews left the scene just before 7 p.m., and the property owner arranged for people to watch for hot spots, Lavery said.