Brush Fire Burns 50 Acres in Oak Park
A fast-moving brush fire scorched 50 acres in Oak Park on Friday evening before being doused by Ventura and Los Angeles county firefighters. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which began near Doubletree Road and Clear Haven Drive about 5:30 p.m. Firefighters had it under control by 7:30.
Winds pushed the fire away from homes and through drying grass toward Palo Comado Canyon, sparing the area’s hillside homes.
A fire Thursday burned 10 acres in Simi Valley.
Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman Sandi Wells said the two fires are just the beginning.
“We can look forward to a lot more grass fires like this,” Wells said. “We have more grass than we normally do.”
Wells said El Nino has contributed to higher grass volumes, but she said wet weather associated with the phenomenon also has kept heavier brush green and wet--for now.
“What we’re seeing now is a lot of grass burning quickly. The heavy brush is not burning,” she said.
About 175 firefighters, 16 fire engines, three helicopters and 10 hand crews helped fight the blaze.
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