Firefighters in Ventura County, California, are continuing to battle a rapidly growing wildfire that has forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed at least 168 structures so far.
The Mountain Fire, as this round of wildfires has been called by authorities, flared up last Wednesday morning, having scorched around 32 square miles of land with the cause still under investigation.
Authorities said the fire’s size has remained relatively stable despite fierce winds that initially fueled its growth.
By Sunday evening, fire officials reported a modest increase in containment, now at 31 percent, up from 26 percent earlier in the day.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Where is the California Wildfire?
Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner expressed relief that no fatalities had been reported, though the fire’s damage has been extensive.
He said during a community meeting “I am grateful for the number of lives that were saved and the fact that we have zero reported fatalities.”
The fire, which first gathered momentum on Wednesday, was fanned by gusts reaching up to 80 miles per hour which pushed embers over long distances and sparked new blazes in nearby communities.
Crews faced challenging conditions, with winds driving flames into residential areas and orchards 2.5 miles away from the fire’s main front.
Jae C. Hong/AP
How Strong Are the Winds Expected to Be?
Despite the extreme conditions, firefighters carried out 136 rescues, pulling residents from danger while the fire quickly spread.
By Saturday, evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings for several areas, while the winds began to subside and temperatures remained mild.
However, the National Weather Service has warned that another round of northeast winds could return on Tuesday, though they are expected to be weaker than the previous gusts that exacerbated the fire’s growth.
Meteorologist Ryan Walbrun said “They’re not going to be nearly while strong while the winds that occurred when this fire started.”
But he cautioned that even lighter winds could trigger anxiety among residents who lived through the worst of the fire’s intensity.
How Much Disruption Have the Wildfires Caused?
Agriculture officials in the region have reported that the fire has caused an estimated $2.4 million in damage to farms, particularly to avocado, citrus, and berry crops.
The fire also led to significant disruptions for residents, while entire communities were placed under evacuation orders throughout the week.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Ventura County, underscoring the severity of the disaster and its affect on both residents and industries.
As firefighting crews continue their efforts, public safety officials are focused on preventing further loss of life and controlling the spread of the fire while conditions stabilize.
Though containment numbers are improving, authorities remain on high alert.
The Mountain Fire is part of a pattern of destructive fires that have plagued the region in recent years, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather and dry conditions in Southern California.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press