Scant Rain Predicted in County This Week

After months of dry weather, things could stay wet throughout Ventura County this week, possibly dampening a Martin Luther King Day march in Oxnard this morning.

But the expected amount of rain won’t be enough to end a prolonged fire season, officials say.

The National Weather Service in Oxnard predicts a 20% chance of light showers through Thursday, bringing a 10th of an inch of rain.

Light showers overnight Saturday and humidity helped keep several small fires in the Santa Clara River bottom from spreading Sunday, but the light precipitation possible this week won’t be enough to declare fire season over, said Bruce Rockwell, a meteorologist with the weather service.

Officials say 2 to 3 inches of rain is needed to officially conclude the brush fire season, which usually ends in November or December.

The Ventura Fire Department responded to several small blazes in the river bottom near Saticoy Avenue on Sunday.

Firefighters first extinguished a fire about 5 feet in diameter just after 8 a.m., then put out four others of similar size, between 20 and 50 feet apart, just after noon, said Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Rennie.

Officials suspect the fires’ cause to be arson but have no leads or suspects.

Fires that occur in the river bottom, where homes are not threatened and no property is damaged, are only a nuisance, Rennie said. But the fires could have spread if not for the weather, he added.

“High moisture and humidity levels kept this fire from spreading,” he said.

Meanwhile, organizers of a scheduled Martin Luther King Day march didn’t expect the potential for precipitation to dampen spirits.

The Freedom March is set to start at 5th and C streets, where elected officials, community members and spiritual leaders will gather at 8 a.m. for a prayer. The march will begin at 8:15.

“It will go on if it rains or not,” said organizer Iva Jeffreys. “It usually rains.”