A vegetation fire sparked along the Santa Clara River bottom in Santa Paula late afternoon June 16, and a second, more feisty fire started up the river near Piru around 6:20 p.m.
The Ventura County Fire Department responded to the Santa Paula brush fire in the area of South Palm Avenue and East Santa Maria Street shortly after 3:20 p.m., according to initial reports. The area is located near the Santa Paula Airport.
The Maria Fire, as it was dubbed, quickly reached 5 acres as of 4:15 p.m. Shortly before 6 p.m., the Santa Paula blaze reached about 15 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
The estimated 140 firefighters made steady progress on the ground. All told, 52 units, including three helicopters and one dozer, were assigned to the incident at some point.
“Firefighters are making steady progress, with crews actively defending nearby structures,” fire officials said on social media in the evening. “Helicopters are making targeted water drops on hot spots to support ground efforts.”
As of 9:30 a.m. June 17, the Maria Fire had been clocked at about 60 acres with 60% containment, said Andrew Dowd, a county fire spokesman. About 30 firefighters remained on scene to mop up the effects of the blaze, he said.
One firefighter who suffered minor injuries was transported to a local hospital and was deemed in stable condition, Dowd said.
No structures were damaged or destroyed in either the Maria or the Howe fires, he said.
Howe Fire near Piru mapped at 34 acres
The Piru fire ignited near Torrey and Howe roads, and crews were pulled from the initial blaze to assist with the firefighting. Additional resources were called in from Los Angeles County, according to reports.
By 6:45 p.m., the so-called Howe Fire had spread to nearly 40 acres. County fire officials said the Howe fire was burning in steep terrain south of Piru and the Santa Clara River.
More crews and equipment were called to assist in Piru, including air tankers and additional helicopters. High-tension power lines were described as being in the area.
By 9:30 a.m. June 17, mapping showed the fire at 34 acres with 0% containment, Dowd said. The fire was surrounded, and about 150 firefighters would be working through the day to identify and mop up hotspots, he said.
Portions of Torrey Road and E. Guiberson Road were closed briefly but reopened by the morning of June 17, according to the county’s emergency site.
An evacuation warning remained in effect June 17 for Zone 1, which extended south from E. Guiberson Road between Smith Canyon and Eureka Canyon roads.
Authorities lift evacuation warning
Because of mild onshore winds, smoke from the Maria Fire moved east toward Fillmore and Piru, according to the county’s emergency site vcemergency.com.
The county’s emergency website urged the public to “avoid the area while firefighting efforts remain underway.” Smoke from the fire was expected to be visible throughout the afternoon, the site said.
An evacuation warning was issued for the south side of the Santa Clara River from the old Mountain View Golf Course north to 12th Street, according to vcemergency.com. A warning indicates residents should be prepared to leave, but a threat is not yet imminent.
By shortly after 7 p.m., the evacuation warning had been lifted. The fire was described as contained around the same time.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Crews battle hotspots, wind down efforts on Santa Paula, Piru fires
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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