Firefighters describe harrowing conditions in California wildfire

Fire officials described Sunday how they battled fierce winds and rescued people in a rapidly spreading wildfire in Southern California. The fire forced thousands of people to flee, destroyed at least 168 structures and damaged 67.

Crews increased control on the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, to 31% from 26% on Sunday morning. The size of the fire remained at about 83 square kilometers.

“I am grateful for the number of lives that were saved and the fact that we have no reports of deaths,” Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said emotionally at a community meeting Sunday night.

“I know we suffered extensive damage, but thousands of homes were saved and hundreds of lives were rescued. “I know we made mistakes, but we will learn from those mistakes,” he said.

Ventura County public safety officials said they were bracing for dry, warm and gusty Santa Ana winds from the northeast. But the fire that started Wednesday morning exploded in size with winds reaching 130 km/h, embers flying from fruit orchards 4 kilometers away to residential neighborhoods around the community of Camarillo.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, while inspection teams continue to assess the damage.

Firefighters made 136 active rescues, authorities reported Sunday.

Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings Saturday for residents in several areas of Ventura County as wind gusts eased and firefighters were aided by milder temperatures and lower humidity.

Officials assessing the impact on avocado, citrus and berry crops estimated the damage at $2.4 million, according to the Ventura County Star.

A new round of northeasterly winds was expected on Tuesday, although the forecast called for increased humidity and gusts not reaching heights as high as those that fueled the fire, said Ryan Walbrun of the National Weather Service.

“They are not going to be as strong as the winds that occurred when this fire started. But for some of you, you will hear that wind and it might make you a little uneasy,” he said.

The region northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California’s most destructive fires over the years. The Mountain Fire rapidly expanded from about 1.2 square kilometers to 41 square kilometers in just over five hours on Wednesday, with gusts exceeding 98 km/h.

Red flag warnings indicating high fire risk conditions expired in most of the region on Thursday.

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Ventura County.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.