Brush Fire Burns Ridge Above Ventura

Ventura’s night sky filled with the orange glow of flames Tuesday after a brush fire erupted on a ridge above the city, charring at least 47 acres.

If winds remained calm, firefighters expected to contain the fire burning between Crimea Fire and Hall Canyon roads overnight. No homes were threatened by the fire, which was caused by downed power lines near the telephone relay tower off Crimea Fire Road, officials said.

The fire began about 7 p.m., and residents watched as flames spread along the hills.

“I’ve lived here through two fires, so I’ll watch with caution,” said Sheri Willebrand, who has lived for 36 years on North Aliso Street about two miles from the blaze. She watched the fire from the front of her home with neighbors.

The fire was a reminder of the October 1996 blaze that charred 400 acres in the hills above City Hall and forced scores of evacuations before an unexpected rain and a shift in wind halted its spread.

“Anyone who lives in California should be prepared for this,” said Dita Wolanow, who lives on a ranch off Crimea Fire Road with her husband, Bill.

The couple watched the flames anxiously from in front of their ranch, about a mile from the fire. The Wolanows were praying for calm skies after several days of Santa Ana winds with gusts topping 50 mph.

Tuesday’s fire began just as Ventura County firefighters finished mopping up the season’s first major blaze--a 500-acre fire north of Fillmore--and a 25-acre fire outside Oxnard.

The Ventura fire burned hilltops east of Grant Park but was contained to the valleys and ridges between Crimea Fire and Hall Canyon roads. At one point, 10- to 20-mph winds began pushing the flames toward the city before the winds shifted.

More than 110 firefighters from the county, state and the cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Fillmore fought the blaze.

Southern California Edison crews were inspecting the downed wires near the telephone tower.