Grass Fire Blackens 10 Acres of Hillside in Thousand Oaks

Despite sweltering heat and gusting Santa Anas, Ventura County firefighters made quick work of a blaze that blackened hillsides and worried several Lang Ranch residents who watched it march toward their homes.

The 10-acre grass fire, which started shortly before 1 p.m. on a hillside above the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Avenida de los Arboles, burned to within 50 yards of several homes and sent up plumes of white smoke that could be seen for miles before it was fully contained about 2 p.m.

No injuries or damage was reported.

According to fire investigators, an earth mover leveling land for new homes struck a rock and sparked the fire about 12:45 p.m. A group of construction workers on their lunch break noticed white smoke rising from a canyon near their work site and called the Fire Department about 12:45 p.m.

“In no time it was over the ridge,” said one of the workers.

By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had crested the ridge and spilled down the hillside toward a number of homes and a city water pump house at Wordsworth Court.

Public Works Supt. Mel Henson said he had a crew with hoses protecting the pump from the fire.

“That was our main concern,” Henson said. “We wanted to keep the water flowing.”

Although the wind-driven fire moved quickly, firefighters with bulldozers and helicopters quickly doused the blaze and within half an hour had it encircled. A short time later, firefighters had the fire contained and mostly extinguished with personnel to spare to protect neighboring homes.

Even though firefighters got an early handle on the fire, nearby residents like Lisa Walsh said watching the flickering orange wall move closer to their homes was an experience they would rather not repeat.

“It was unbelievable,” said the 33-year-old Walsh, who woke up from a nap to see the smoke and flames burn up to within 100 feet of her home on Wordsworth Court. “That was scary, really scary.”

This was the first time this year that county firefighters have had to battle a blaze during a strong Santa Ana. However, that may have worked in their favor.

Firefighters countywide have been on high alert since the dry winds began howling out of the east earlier this week. On Tuesday they prepared themselves and their equipment in case they were called to help Orange County firefighters battle the 6,000-acre fire near Black Star Canyon.

“It certainly didn’t hurt with all the extra staff on duty and having everyone oriented to a brush-fire situation,” said Capt. Tom Kruschke. “Everyone knew what they were supposed to do and we got out there quickly.”

During an El Nino briefing at City Hall, Mayor Judy Lazar remarked to the more than 100 county agency heads in attendance that she was confident the billowing smoke from the brush fire was not a result of any atmospheric anomaly.

“I’ve been assured that this is not a part of El Nino,” Lazar quipped to a chuckling audience.

Meanwhile, forecasters said todaywill likely be a repeat of Wednesday with temperatures in the 90s across the region.

Camarillo and Ojai were the hot spots Wednesday, with the mercury rising to 100 degrees in both cities, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Baruffaldi. In the east county, Simi Valley reported a high of 96, while Thousand Oaks warmed up to 94 degrees.

Forecasters say temperatures will drop as the weekend approaches. On Saturday, residents in coastal cities can expect patchy fog and low clouds in the morning, and clearing in the afternoon, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s, said John Sherwin, a forecasting meteorologist with Weather Data Inc.

Times staff writer Scott Hadly and Times correspondent Scott Steepleton contributed to this report.