Season’s 1st Brush Fire Quickly Extinguished
Responding to the first brush fire of the season, firefighters Wednesday evening put out a half-acre blaze in an unpopulated area of Los Padres National Forest off the Maricopa Highway.
Authorities responded to a call about 5:30 p.m. for the fire about five miles north of Ojai that had spread from a light grassy area into heavy chaparral. The blaze was contained within 15 minutes, but the mop-up took several hours.
A battalion chief stationed in Los Padres National Forest joined the crew of the Ventura County Fire Department, which sent a full brush fire response team that included five engines, a helicopter, a bulldozer and one hand crew.
Heavy rains during the past two years have caused substantial grass growth, which is consumed quickly during a brush fire, according to Sandi Wells, a Fire Department spokesperson. “We want to get people out there in a hurry. We don’t want to take any chances.”
With no roads leading to the fire, additional hand crews from the California Department of Forestry were sent out to watch for hot spots and embers.
The investigation continues and authorities would not speculate whether arson was involved.
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