Community Corner

Springs Fire: Containment Expected Wednesday

Firefighters continue to put out hot spots and flare-ups and patrol the fire perimeter.

8  p.m. Tuesday update: 
Acres: 28,000
Containment: 95 percent
Assigned Personnel: 296
Injuries: 9
Homes Damaged or Destroyed: 0
Firefighters continue to locate hot spots within the burn perimeter. The main focus of operations continues to be to eliminate heat inside the perimeter that may cause an escape, finish fire line construction, and rehabilitate the areas impacted by fire suppression.

9 a.m. Tuesday update: Here are the current numbers for the Springs Fire as provided by the Ventura County Fire Department:
Acres: 28,000
Containment: 90 percent with full containment expected Tuesday
Assigned Personnel: 440
Injuries: 8
Homes Damaged or Destroyed: 0
Today, firefighters will continue to mop up (extinguish hot spots and flare-ups) and patrol the fire perimeter. Fire suppression repair and rehabilitation continue. Firefighting resources will continue to be demobilized and firefighters sent home.

9 a.m. Monday update: Here are the current numbers for the Springs Fire as provided by the Ventura County Fire Department:
Acres: 28,000
Containment: 80 percent, full containment expected May 7.
Assigned Personnel: 1,055
Firefighter Injuries: 8
Homes Threatened: 0
Homes Destroyed: 0
No significant fire behavior observed overnight, and little to none is expected Monday with rain in the forecast.

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5 p.m. update: The Springs Fire is 75 percent contained Sunday with full containment expected by Monday, according to Cal fire. All evacuations have been lifted.  

The fire destroyed 25 outbuildings, damaged 15 residences, damaged five commercial properties and damaged 15 outbuildings, according to Cal Fire. 

Find out what's happening in Malibuwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

8:30 a.m. Sunday update: With the Springs Fire 60 percent contained, Cal Fire reports that remaining firefighters are continuing to construct control lines, mop up and patrol the fire perimeter. The demobilization of firefighting resources is continuing.

Potrero Road is closed between Reino Road and Hidden Valley. Residents may return to their homes with proper identification. Residents are encouraged to access Hidden Valley from West Lake Boulevard.

The Ventura County Fire Department reports five firefighter injuries, two from falls and three suffering debris in their eyes. There are 1,856 firefighters on the line utilizing 212 fire engines and six helicopters.

Full containment is expected Monday.

10:49 p.m. update: Dan Walden, manager of Neptune's Net, talks about what it was like watching the fire get closer and closer to the restaurant.

8:30 p.m. update: I just got back from driving up through Yerba Buena and along Pacific Coast Highway. The fire is 56 percent contained and it remains at 28,000 acres. I uploaded photos showing the devastation at La Jolla Canyon. Here's an updated fire map from earlier. Cal Fire is now handling updates on its website. -Jessica

6:22 p.m. update: Camp Hess Kramer and the Circle X Ranch appear undamaged and there is no sign of fire around Yerba Buena Road, reports Editor Jessica Davis as fog begins to roll in from the coast.

6 p.m. update: Yerba Buena Road and Deer Creek Road have re-opened, according to the California Highway Patrol. Mandatory evacuation has been lifted. Editor Jessica Davis is at the scene and she can't see any fire damage.

5:30 p.m. update: The Springs Fire is now 56 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. 

4:30 p.m. update: Cal Fire reports that Pacific Coast Highway has reopened but closures continue at Deer Creek Road, Potrero Road, Reino Road, and Yerba Buena Road.

4 p.m. update:  With the milder weather conditions, the Ventura County Fire Department says firefighters are making progress on extending fire containment lines. The fire remains at 28,000 acres and that figure is not expected to change significantly. 

Noon update: Although cooler weather is anticipated to assist firefighters battling wildfires, air quality officials issued a smoke advisory Saturday for the Southland including coastal areas from Malibu to Santa Monica.

Due to the sea breeze, smoke from the Springs Fire in Ventura County is expected to come onshore Saturday into areas downwind of the fire.  Air quality will likely reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

The AQMD advises all individuals to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke.  This includes areas where residents can see or smell smoke.

9 a.m. Saturday update: Here are the latest Ventura County Fire Department numbers from the Springs fire:

  • Acres: 28,000
  • Containment: 30%
  • Homes Threatened: 4,000, 15 damaged, none destroyed.
  • Assigned Personnel: 1,895
  • Injuries: 1 firefighter, 1 civilian, both from a traffic collision away from the fire.
  • Roads/Evacuations: 
  • Pacific Coast Highway - Open
  • Potrero Road - Closed
  • Deer Creek Road - Closed, evacuation orders still in place.
  • Yerba Buena Road - Closed evacuation orders still in place.
  • All Newbury Park Evacuation Orders - Residents only allowed in with valid ID.
  • Weather: cooler, higher humidity

8 p.m. update: The Pacific Coast Highway between Las Posas Road in Camarillo and Mulholland Drive north of Malibu has reopened, according to Caltrans. Ventura County Fire Department officials have knocked down the fire in that area, but the hillside is subject to falling debris and rockslides.

The California Highway Patrol will escort vehicles through the area and stop traffic if necessary. Caltrans also plans to place trucks along the shoulder to protect motorists from areas where debris is coming down the hill.

Saturday, a Caltrans geologist will survey the hillside to determine its stability and determine whether the highway needs to be closed to remove debris.

Caltrans advises motorists to expect delays or take U.S. Highway 101 as an alternate route.

7:50 p.m. update: For the firefight, the Los Angeles County Fire Department  dispatched, under the mutual assistance program, one water-dropping helicopter, one camp crew, seven strike crews, three battalion chiefs and one assistant chief to help the Ventura County Fire Department and CalFire battle the Camarillo Springs, David Bloom of the L.A. County Fire Department told City News Service.

7:30 p.m. update: Ventura County Fire says: "With sunset, the air attack will be discontinued for the night and nighttime ground operations will commence. Barring unusual events, we do not expect to receive any new updates on the fire until tomorrow morning. If circumstances warrant, we will post information overnight, but check back after sunrise tomorrow for new information."

6:38 p.m. update: Ventura County Fire says: "The Springs Fire has grown to 28,000 acres with 20 percent containment. The focus of firefighting activities overnight will be in the Yerba Buena Rd. area where a concentrated attack will be focused."

6:36 p.m. update: Ventura County Fire now says Pacific Coast Highway has not been reopened due to concerns over rockslides. PCH is closed between Las Posas Road and Yerba Buena Road.

5:17 p.m. update: Pacific Coast Highway has been opened in all directions, according the Ventura County Fire Deparment.

4:23 p.m. update: Ventura County Fire is discussing over the scanner opening up Pacific Coast Highway.

4:19 p.m. update: The fire has spread to 18,000 acres and is 20 percent contained, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

4:03 p.m. update: Although the fire has moved away, I will continue to keep monitoring the situation. I'm looking to interview those who are evacuated from Yerba Buena and Deer Creek roads. Email me at jessica.davis@patch.com.

3:50 p.m. update: A wall of flames from the Springs Fire only made it as far as Yerba Buena Road Friday before turning northwest, according to Ventura County Fire spokesman Bill Nash.

The fire is now heading toward Lake Sherwood and Hidden Valley, where evacuations are underway.

"Our goal is to get in front of the thing and get it contained," Nash said, adding that he did not have an estimate on containment.

He encouraged Malibu residents to use this fire as a "good wake up call."

"This is the time to prepare," Nash said.

Evacuations remain in place in Sycamore Canyon and on Deer Canyon and Yerba Buena roads, he said. Pacific Coast Highway will remain closed for the "foreseeable future," according to Nash.

2:38 p.m. update: What seems like good news for Malibu has turned into a nightmare for homes previously thought safe to the northwest, according to reports.

The winds shifted just before noon from west to east, pushing the fire back the way it came and to unburnt areas to the north.

“The bad thing about this fire blowing back like this is, all the homes that were relatively safe after the fire passed yesterday are now in danger again,” Ventura County Fire spokesman Bill Nash told the L.A. Times.

Evacuations remain in place in Sycamore Canyon and on Deer Canyon and Yerba Buena roads.

2:31 p.m. update: The Point Dume Malibu Vet Clinic, 28990 Pacific Coast Highway, is offering boarding free of charge for evacuated pets due to the Springs Fire. They can be reached at 310-457-6453.

2:25 p.m. update: Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies are patrolling the hills and canyons above Malibu searching for embers, sheriff's Sgt. Tony Arnold said.

12:53 p.m. update: Dogs evacuated from Malibu and Newbury Park have been taken in by Camp Bow Wow in Agoura Hills, according to Agoura Hills Patch.

12:48 p.m. update: Malibu Mayor Pro Tem Joan House said she is always concerned about fire.

"A fire doesn't have a designated plan of where it is going to burn," House told Malibu Patch.

House said she was told by emergency personnel that fire crews will go at it "full force today."

12:46 p.m. update: Pacific Coast Highway remains closed.

12:01 p.m. update: The fire is an estimated two or three miles from the border of Malibu, according Bill Nash, a public information officer with the Ventura County Fire Department.

However, Nash said that shifting winds have slowed the fire's march toward Malibu.

"It's not moving as fast in [Malibu's] direction because we are undergoing a weather transition, a west wind to an east wind, pushing the fire back to the east," Nash said.

11:15 a.m. update: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Malibu/Lost Hills Station has set up a command post by the Malibu Library at 23519 Civic Center Way.

Lt. Jim Royal of the LASD said the command post was set up as part of an"abundance of caution" and that “we’re being prudent and assisting our brothers and sisters up there."

The command post was set up for pre-staging as the LASD and other agencies prepare for the possibility of the fire crossing over into L.A. County, Royal said.

"It’s being monitored still, and we're hopeful that it can get knocked down today," Malibu City Manager Jim Thorsen told Patch.

In an update at 11:11 a.m., the Ventura County Star reported that officials said the fire was "more erratic" Friday due to shifting winds blowing in from the Pacific Ocean.

According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the main fire Friday morning is located around Deer Creek and Yerba Buena roads near the Ventura-Los Angeles county line. Pacific Coast Highway remains closed between Las Posas Road and Yerba Buena Road.

8:59 a.m. update: After school activities have been canceled at Malibu High School.

8:47 a.m. update: Pacific Coast Highway could remain closed between Las Posas Road and Mulholland Highway through Saturday night, KTLA reports.

8:22 a.m. update: Air attacks have resumed and nearly 1,000 fire personnel are battling the flames, according to reports.

7:30 a.m. update: Malibu High School principal Jerry Block says parents should not take risks in getting children to school.

"We understand that, depending on where you live, conditions may be difficult," Block wrote in an email to parents. "Please put the safety of your family and your home first and do not take unnecessary risks to get to school."

7:25 a.m. update: Malibu schools will be open Friday, according to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

7:22 a.m. update: Malibu City Manager Jim Thorsen said the city is not activating its emergency operations center at this time.

"We continue to monitor the fire and coordinate with L.A. County fire and sheriff," Thorsen said. "We will be posting updates as we receive them."

5:38 a.m. update: The fire that started near Camarillo Thursday has spread to 10,000 acres with 10 percent containment, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

4:58 a.m. update: Ventura County Fire released the following statement via its Facebook page:

Firefighters were very busy overnight working to contain the fire that began yesterday morning near Camarillo Springs. The fire continues to burn out of control and firefighters spent the night protecting homes and cutting containment lines with hand tools and bulldozers. The air attack will resume shortly after sunrise. After the sun comes up, the fire will be reviewed and new numbers will be posted as soon as possible.

3:34 a.m. update: Firefighters are actively battling a massive wind driven fire at Deer Creek Road and Yerba Buena Road as of 3:30 a.m., Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Bill Nash said.

"It is moving in the general direction of Malibu, but it is still a ways off," Nash said. "We have structure protection going on. We have crews building lines. Everything that we can do in the dark we are doing right now."

Nash said there will be a briefing in the morning to the media in Camarillo to update on whether there has been any damage overnight.

Nash encouraged Malibu residents ahead of the fire to keep their eyes open for embers.

"Those embers can move fire ahead of the fire," Nash said. "... If you put out those little embers, you are stopping a big fire."

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3:21 a.m. update: The fire was "seven or eight miles" from Malibu at 2 a.m., a Venutra County spokesman told NBC News.

11:43 p.m. update: I'm slowing down for the night (but I'll be checking back in often). If you are concerned, listen to scanner reports here: http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/238. -Jessica

11:01 p.m. update: Craig Sap of California State Parks says of the Sycamore Canyon Campgrounds: "The State Park Maintenance and Caltrans maintenance shops were saved as well as the nearby Nature Center. Also, the structures in the campground may have been spared."

10:55 p.m. update: The vegetation around Sycamore Canyon was burned, but firefighters were able to protect the facilities, according to State Parks.

10:10 p.m. update: Some 165 people are being evacuated from Yerba Buena Road at Camp Hess Kramer, the Ventura County Star reports.

9:11 p.m. update: The fire is spreading toward the Sycamore Canyon campgrounds Thursday night in the Springs Fire, according to California State Parks.

"We just lost Sycamore Canyon Campground," Craig Sap of State Parks told Malibu Patch. "The fire swept down the canyon with such velocity there was no opportunity to defend."

8:04 p.m. update: Evacuation center set up at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

8:02 p.m. update: The fire has reached Pacific Coast Highway at La Jolla Canyon, the California Highway Patrol reports.

7:57 p.m. update: The closure of Pacific Coast Highway has been extended to Mulholland Highway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The fire has spread to 8,000 acres and is 10 percent contained, the Ventura County Fire Department reported.

7:49 p.m. update: Pacific Coast Highway is now closed to all traffic from Yerba Buena Road to Las Posas Road in Ventura County, according to Malibu's Office of Emergency Service.

7:40 p.m. update: Pacific Coast Highway will close for the second time, according to the California Highway Patrol.

7:32 p.m. update: Mandatory evacuations are underway on Deer Creek and Yerba Buena roads, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

7:23 p.m. update: Craig Sap, California State Parks Superintendent of the Angeles District, reports that the fire is in Sycamore Canyon and has burned abandoned residences and out buidings at Ranch Center in Point Mugu State Park.

"MRCA and Ventura County fire resources are in lower half of Sycamore Canyon where if conditions warrant they may make a stand setting back fires in hopes of stopping the fire from reaching Sycamore Canyon camp ground," Sap said.

7:03 p.m. update: The Springs Fire is 10 percent contained, the Ventura County Star.

6:32 p.m. update: Point Mugu State Park last burned in 1996, according to California State Parks.

5:50 p.m. update: A full update is expected at 7 p.m. from Ventura County Fire.

5:40 p.m. update: Both Yerba Buena and Deer Creek roads are closed at Pacific Coast Highway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

5:01 p.m. update: The Springs Fire is now 6,946 acres.

4:29 p.m. update:The fire is now burning in Wood Canyon in Point Mugu Sate Park, according to the Ventura County Star.

4:23 p.m. update: More than 850 firefighters are battling flames in nearby Ventura County. "The fire does continue to march toward the coast," Bill Nash of Ventura County Fire told KTLA.

3:40 p.m. update: Los Angeles County firefighters made quick work of a half-acre spot fire at Meadow Creek Lane and Lost Hills Road in Calabasas. City News Service reported the fire was apparently from the larger Ventura County blaze.

2:54 p.m. update: All lanes on Pacific Coast Highway have been reopened, according to the California Highway Patrol. Yerba Buena Road leading from PCH to Point Mugu State Park will remain closed.

2:49 p.m. update: Southbound Pacific Coast Highway has reopened at Las Posas Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

2:08 p.m. update: California State Parks Superintendent for the Angeles District Craig Sap says that the priority is on structure protection and the fire will likely enter Point Mugu State Park at La Jolla Valley.

1:51 p.m. update: Ventura County Fire released a map showing the fire's footprint and the evacuation areas. See the entire map on the Ventura County Fire website.

1:22 p.m. update: It's business as usual at Neptune's Net, where a road block is set up nearby for the closure of Pacific Coast Highway at Yerba Buena Road.

"It’s pretty busy," Neptune's Net manager Dan Walden told Malibu Patch. "We’ve got a lot of business from the Santa Monica and Los Angeles area from the looks of it. It hasn’t really effected us yet."

Walden said he just saw a slew of emergency vehicles go up Yerba Buena Road and that he can see the smoke when he looks over toward Oxnard. 

"Out here at the beach it’s pretty nice," Walden said.

1:14 p.m. update: Yerba Buena Road leading up into Point Mugu State Park from Pacific Coast Highway has also been closed, according to the California Highway Patrol.

12:42 p.m. update: Pacific Coast Highway has been closed from Yerba Buena to Las Posas Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. All lanes are open on the 101 Freeway.

12:41 p.m. update: Malibu High School officials are in contact with the city about the growing fire in nearby Ventura County. Right now, classes are continuing.

12:31 update: The Springs fire has spread to 6,500 acres and continues to spread toward the ocean, according to Ventura County Fire.

12:13 p.m. update: More than 500 firefighters from Ventura and Los Angeles counties fighting the Camarillo Springs fire, according to reports.

11:37 a.m. update: The flames are rapidly spreading, possibly toward Pacific Coast Highway in Point Mugu. The California Highway Patrol reports PCH remains open at this time, but is being prepared for a possible closure.

"We're going to the beach with this one," Ventura County fire spokesman Mike Lindbery told the Ventura County Star.

11:20 a.m. update: California State Parks has started precautionary evacuations of Point Mugu campgrounds and the day use area.

Craig Sap, California State Parks Superintendent of the Angeles District, said in a statement:

Since there is a possibility of the fire sweeping over the mountains and to the ocean the Point Mugu coastal day-use and campgrounds are being evacuated. Backcountry evacuations are still ongoing.  All State Park residents in Point Mugu have been evacuated. Additional Rangers are being brought in from the Topanga Sector to assist. 

Original post: Malibu city officials are monitoring a wind driven brush fire in Camarillo.

"We are monitoring fire and sheriff radios, and stand ready to help make notifications if we become threatened," said Brad Davis, Malibu's Emergency Services Coordinator. "Having said that, there is nothing to indicate any imminent danger to us here."

Ventura County fire officials told KTLA that the flames could reach Pacific Coast Highway, near Point Mugu, as early as noon.

Craig Sap, California State Parks Superintendent of the Angeles District, said in a statement the Point Mugu State Park back country is now closed.

Sap wrote:

Due to the unpredictable nature of the fire along the Conejo Grade and in the Camarillo Springs area and with the possibility of the fire sweeping across State Park property the Point Mugu State Park backcountry is now closed. At this time the coastal day use area and campgrounds are not closed, but will take action to evacuate if the conditions warrant.    

Read complete coverage of the fire on the Ventura County Star.

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