Springs fire should be fully controlled by Thursday, officials say
State fire officials have reduced the total acreage burned in a Ventura County wildfire that threatened thousands of homes and drew in firefighters from across the country.
The Springs fire, which started last Thursday in Camarillo south of the 101 Freeway burned 24,251 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Earlier estimates put the fire’s damage at 28,000 acres.
The fire is 95% contained and should be fully under control Thursday, according to the Cal Fire website. Small fires reignited within the footprint the blaze made across the Point Mugu and Newbury Park mountains and vegetation-filled hillsides.
Nine people, including eight firefighters, suffered minor injuries in the blaze.
Although the cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials said Sunday that they had ruled out arson and instead believed the blaze was started by a small “undetermined roadside ignition of grass/debris.”
“The area is considered a collection point for fuels and ignition sources. Due to the topography, the fire quickly spread, fanned by strong east winds,” Cal Fire said in a statement.
A spell of cool, wet weather over the weekend helped firefighters regain the advantage over the blaze.
At its peak, the fire threatened about 4,000 homes, authorities said. Fifteen houses were damaged but none were destroyed. Ten storage sheds and barns were destroyed.
ALSO:
Area hospitals show little progress in safety scores
Teen says she feared watching her boyfriend kill her mother
Jaycee Dugard’s mother: ‘Miracle’ kidnapped Ohio women rescued
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
