Crews Battle Blaze in Wildlife Refuge

More than 200 Ventura County and U.S. Forest Service firefighters battled a 30-acre brush fire Saturday afternoon in the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Fillmore.

Authorities expected the blaze, which began about 3:15 p.m., to be contained by about 10 p.m. No injuries were reported, and the cause is still under investigation, said Kathy Good, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Three California condors held in a large pen near the blaze were not evacuated and appeared to be doing fine as of Saturday evening, said Greg Austin, deputy project leader for the condor program at Hopper Mountain.

The birds included two captivity-bred chicks, which are scheduled to be released in the wild within the next two weeks, and one adult mentor condor, Austin said.

The fire came within 250 feet of several ranch structures at the condor sanctuary, but they escaped damage, Good said.

Firefighters used five helicopters, two air tankers, bulldozers and several crews to knock down the blaze, which burned in a steep area covered with dried grass, Good said.