Fuel Supply Shut Off for Oil Fire Near County Line

An oil fire near the Los Angeles County-Ventura County line raged for about an hour Tuesday before it burned itself out, fire officials said.

More than 50 firefighters from the Ventura County and Los Angeles County fire departments responded to the blaze, which erupted shortly after 1 p.m. at a field in the hills near San Martinez Grande Canyon Road.

No injuries were reported, and officials have no estimate of damage.

No homes or businesses were endangered.

“For about 45 minutes, [the fire] was going pretty good,” said Ken Maffei, a battalion chief with the Ventura County Fire Department. “Everything got shut off so there was really nothing more for it to burn.”

According to fire officials, the blaze burned 200 40-gallon containers of crude oil near an oil pump and storage tank owned by Northridge-based CBase Corp.

Fire investigators have not determined what sparked the fire, and company officials could not be reached for comment.

The oil field, which is shared by a number of local oil producers, is in the far eastern end of the county near the Los Angeles County line.

The fire sent up a column of black smoke that could be seen as far away as Van Nuys and Santa Paula.

Fifteen engines responded to the fire.

Crews spent much of the afternoon mopping up and soaking the area with retardant foam to prevent flare-ups.