If the Mountain Fire The wildfires that tore through Ventura County neighborhoods on Wednesday injured people and burned down homes as residents in Camarillo and Moorpark fled for their lives.
“We’ve never seen anything like this. Never thought something like this would happen to us,” said Ken Levin, who lives near the Spanish Hills and was evacuated. He said firefighters were battling the massive blaze in an area behind his home. “Thank God for our firefighters who are here to help us when we need it.”
As he watched the flames rip across a nearby hill, he said he was grateful that he and his wife were okay. She had left their house earlier in the day. “I’m alive. My wife is alive. We have everything we need. This can be replaced,” he said.
ETIENNE LAURENT
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, the wildfire had scorched more than 10,400 acres within five hours of first sparking near Moorpark just before 9 a.m. According to the Ventura County Fire Department, rescue efforts have been the main priority of those who responded to the scene.
“Firefighters immediately worked to pull people from their homes and save lives,” Ventura County Fire Chief Trevor Johnson said as he addressed reporters at a news conference at 3 p.m.
Some residents described trying to get their friends and relatives away and helping them pack their belongings as they left as quickly as possible.
In Camarillo, Cindi Hitt went to her friend’s house to help her evacuate. She collected the woman’s belongings, along with her dog and a dress she plans to wear to her daughter’s upcoming wedding.
“She was so upset. She couldn’t really tell me what to get, and I was upset,” Hitt said. “Then I realized I couldn’t stay there any longer. It was just time to go.”
When she tried to leave, Hitt said she could barely drive away.
“My car got stuck right next to where the flames were,” she said. ‘The fire brigade was there. They were so helpful.”
Firefighters managed to get Hitt’s car moving so they could escape. She urged other people in the area to get out as quickly as possible, saying she didn’t know about the evacuations because she doesn’t live there.
“It was very scary. All I can tell you is… Don’t wait,” Hitt said.
ETIENNE LAURENT
On Tuesday, National Weather Service Los Angeles announced a “particularly dangerous situation”. Red Flag Warning for the Next Days, a rare weather warning that is typically only issued once every few years and carries a higher level of risk than regular Red Flag warnings.
Devon Davis, who lives near Spanish Hills, said he heard about the warning and tried to prepare.
“This was a total scenario that could happen,” Davis said of the massive mountain fire. “But we see it happening today.”
As the wildfires grew larger throughout the morning, he went to his aunt’s house in Camarillo Heights, a particularly hard-hit area that Gov. Gavin Newsom said state officials are monitoring as they work with local authorities on emergency aid.
“But she got away. She’s safe and she’s with us now,” Davis said, adding that his family managed to help his grandmother evacuate her home in Spanish Hills. “We’ve just been traveling, trying to get friends, family, you name it, just organized and on the road quickly.”
“It’s a struggle,” he said.
