Aerial Attack Saves Homes From Blaze North of Camarillo

A brush fire threatened nearly two dozen homes Sunday afternoon on its way to destroying nearly 150 acres of thick vegetation in an area north of Camarillo that authorities say hasn’t seen fire for nearly 50 years.

Some residents of the affluent section of Camarillo known as the Heights packed their bags in the event of evacuation. But by early evening, a massive aerial assault by Ventura County firefighters--aided by a strong flow of moist sea air--had the suspicious fire nearly three-quarters contained. Full containment was expected by midnight.

Fire Capt. Lee Hill, who for a time was on the front lines of the fast-moving blaze, said the rugged terrain of the hills overlooking Somis made for a difficult ground attack in the early stages of the fire, which officials think was started about 2 p.m.

“What we’ve got is extremely steep, steep canyons up here that even a mountain goat wouldn’t want to go into,” he said.

Firefighters used two air tankers and four helicopters to drop water and retardant on the fire. As night fell an hour earlier because of the shift from daylight saving time, ground crews were sent in, said county fire spokeswoman Sandi Wells. About 250 firefighters were expected to have tackled the fire before it was extinguished.

Wells said the blaze began in a canyon in the unincorporated part of Ventura County east of Alosta Drive and sent up a head of smoke visible as far away as Ventura and Simi Valley.

Authorities believe the blaze was man-made and began in the area of an aluminum-sided travel trailer. It will be up to investigators to decide whether the fire was set deliberately.

Southbound traffic on the Ventura Freeway is typically at a crawl on a Sunday afternoon, but the fire made matters worse as drivers slowed to 20 mph to catch a glimpse of the blaze. That meant a drive from west Ventura to Camarillo, which usually takes 15 minutes, was increased to 40 minutes because of gawkers. Numerous drivers also pulled over on California 118 near Somis to watch the fire advance.

Despite the tie-ups, the California Highway Patrol reported no traffic accidents linked to the onlookers.

Hundreds of people gathered outside their homes in the Heights to watch, some even climbing small hillsides to get a better look.

Mike Taylor, 50, watched the blaze climb hills and cross ridges from his five-acre ranch on Alosta Drive.

“I’ve been up here 49 years,” Taylor said. “What is kind of a problem with this thing is there hasn’t been a fire up here for about 40 years.”

In its first hour, Sunday’s fire “looked like it was virtually out of control,” Taylor said.

He and a friend went walking near the point of origin and saw the burned-out shell of a wooden-frame trailer. “When we got there the aluminum siding had melted off,” Taylor said.

The abandoned trailer apparently attracts children. “We’re guessing kids were playing there and started the fire,” Taylor said.

Taylor took no precautions to protect his home. He didn’t have to, he said, because the water and retardant bombers were doing a terrific job.

“The retardant is dropping on me as I speak to you,” Taylor said, a helicopter flying overhead.

Some of the residents were concerned the air attack was too low, Taylor said. But as the afternoon wore on and the crews hit their targets with precision, nerves were calmed, he said.

“Our hats go off to chopper No. 5,” Taylor said. “He’s been doing amazing flying, and dropping right on the button.”

On nearby Alosta Way, resident Keith Barrona, 37, was making preparations to leave should fire officials give the order.

“It’s bad enough that I’ve got the kids’ bags packed just in case we have to leave in a hurry.”

Officials at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo said the fire burned within a mile of the facility, at 2309 Antonio Ave.

“The wind is blowing in the opposite direction,” said a nursing supervisor, who would not give her name. “So, we are not getting any of the fumes.”

Back on the hillsides where the flames had been, Fred Clausen, a retired minister, said it is no wonder with the thick vegetation that an occasional fire doesn’t put homeowners on edge.

“We’re just asking for it, living up here,” Clausen said.

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Times correspondent Chris Chi contributed to this story.