Fire 60 percent contained; evacuation lifted

The Ventura County Fire Department said a roughly 15-mile stretch from state Highway 101 has reopened in both directions.

There have been no injuries or structures lost with this fire.

Under the wind advisory, gusts could reach 40 miles per hour, Ceto said.

A mandatory evacuations was in place for the Solimar Beach community while a voluntary evacuation was in effect for the Faria Beach community. Ventura County Fire Department officials said later in the evening the cause of the blaze was believed to be due to a downed power line in the area. The fire, which began on Christmas night, has charred 1,200 acres.

“The fire was wind-driven, with an offshore wind, and blew down to the coast”, says Ventura County fire battalion chief Fred Burris.

PCH 1 north and south bound lanes are shutdown from the Solimar brush fire that started early Saturday morning in Ventura County, California December 26, 2015.

A Red Cross shelter has been set up for residents, it said. During a morning press conference fire officials officials estimated they’d contained about 10 percent of the fire and would be working to put the fire out for the next three days.

Maks and her family were driving on the highway after attending the National Basketball Association game in Los Angeles between the Lakers and Clippers, and the family was headed to their holiday home in Santa Barbara about 11 p.m. Friday. Over 600 firefighters are on the scene fighting the fire. “We’re getting a bunch of embers in Solimar east”.

Firefighters biggest concern remains the wind, which was blowing at 25- to 35-mph in the area early Saturday.

The Solimar Beach region was under mandatory evacuation orders for 60 homes.

The various agencies responding to the fire include the Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura City Fire Department, Santa Barbara Fire Department, Santa Paula City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.