Date: 5/2/2013
Time: 0718 - Ongoing
Incident Type: Wildfire
District: Ventura County
Location: Ventura County - Camarillo Springs
Units: Ventura County Fire, Cal Fire, Ventura City Fire, Oxnard Fire, Santa Paula, Naval Base Ventura County Fire, Orange County Fire, LA County Fire, City of LA Fire, Burbank Fire, Ventura County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, 8 helos, 6 fixed wing air tankers, Red Cross, Numerous Ambulance Companies, 96 Fire Engines, Dozers
Frequency: Ventura County Fire Department
Weather Conditions: Warm, Dry, Windy
Reporters: Ventura County Fire Department, peterose313
Description: Major wildfire burning has consumed 8,000 acres in 8 hours. Fire is 10% contained. Slow lane of Highway 101 is closed for fire activity. More than 200 ff's have responded to the fire. This is 1 of 2 wildfires in the area. The other is east of this in Riverside County. There was also a 3.2 magnitude earthquake nearby in Channel Islands region. A 3.5 magnitude was registered in Baja, California on 5/3 as well. A new fire has sprung up diverting 3 of the air tankers. Base camp is set up at Freedom Park in Camarillo.
0718: Wildfire burning near Camarillo Spring on the Conejo Grade. Currently at 10 acres and growing. Crews are protecting the structures in Camarillo Springs.
0732: Fire is now at 30 acres and spreading
0802: 2 air tankers and one additional helicopter expected to arrive by 0830. Additional air support en route as well. Old Conejo Road now has traffic control and is open to residents only.
0813: Now at 100 acres with 0% containment. Terrain is steep and rocky
0832: Fire being attacked by air and land. Planes are dropping retardant. Still 0% contained
0915: Residents being asked to prepare for possibility of evacuations.
0948: Dos Vientos residents being advised to evacuate due to the fire moving towards Newbury Park.
1002: Cal State University Channels Islands being evacuated. 20 engines being sent to the campus for structure protection
1020: Spring fire now at 2,000 acres and spreading
1207: 500+ ff's now on ground and or en route. Residents being asked to watch for airborne embers
1238: Fire is now at 6,500 acres and growing. Airplanes have been grounded due to weather conditions. 3 helos still flying
1315: Pacific Coast Highway closed b/t Las Posas Road and the Ventura/LA County line.
1432: Now upwards of 600 fire and law enforcement assigned to the fire. 96 engines, 6 helos, 5 dozers, dozens of hand crews fighting the fire.
1647: Smoke advisory now in place. Smoke coming from the agricultural buildings at the college (Cal State University Channels). Evacuation orders in place for that area, anyone evacuating should avoid the smoke.
1750: Fire Depts from all over Southern California, Ventura County Sheriff's Office, CHP, numerous ambulance companies, Red Cross, and various other agencies all operating at this fire. Fire is at 6,500+ acres burning and spreading.
1952: 8,000 acres now burned, 10% contained, 2,000 homes threatened, 15 sustained damage but none destroyed, 925 personnel committed to the fire, Roads closed b/t Las Posas and Yerba Buena, Yerba Buena Road, Deer Creek Road. Mandatory evacuations for: Sycamore Canyon, La Jolla Canyon, and Brome Ranch. Residents in Dos Vientos are allowed in with ID.
2126: Fire has now reached the Pacific Coast Highway. Fire came out at Sycamore Canyon. Residents in Sycamore Canyon requested to evacuate immediately.
5/3/2013
0345: Cal Fire Team 5 will reconvene at 0600 hours
0751: Fire is now at 10,000 acres and growing. Containment unchanged, 4,000 homes threatened and 15 damaged but none destroyed. No ff or civilian injuries reported, 954 personnel o/s with more en route.
1116: There are now 8 helos dropping water and 6 fixed wing air tankers dropping retardant.
1400: Naval Base Ventura County asking for structure protection in Las Posas Road area after a wind shift
1500: 3 air tankers being diverted to a new fire. Request for additional tankers in place.
1540: Command requesting the PIO remove the media from the road at least. They're significantly interfering with firefighting operations. Numerous horse ranches that have not been evacuated in St. Francis Estates.
1545: New spot fire of 100 acres in the green in Division F. Asking for another engine strike team
Ventura County Fire Department (maps and photos included)
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/us/california-wildfire/index.html
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-camarillo-brush-fire-20130502,7025848,7991967.photogallery?index=la-hp-inline-camarillo-springs-fire-pictures-2-004
Twitter: #SpringsFire
NOTE: MOST TIMES/UPDATES FROM THE VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.