Wind-Whipped Coastal Fire Shuts Down Scenic Calif. Highway

A wind-fueled brush fire that charred 1,236 acres near a Ventura County beach is now 75 percent contained, Cal Fire officials said.

The cause of the initial blaze was believed to be a downed power line.

They estimate firefighters will be working on extinguishing the fire for the next 3 days.

In this photo provided by Ryan Cullom, a Ventura County Fire Department engine holds its positions as fire overruns state Highway 101 near Ventura, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015.

First reports of the California wildfire started coming in at 11 p.m. local time on Friday near Ventura, which is about 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Los Angeles. Evacuation orders have been lifted for residents; Emma Wood State Beach remains closed.

The California Highway Patrol has reopened US 101 northbound, and is attempting to reopen the highway’s southbound route as of Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said that the Red Cross opened a shelter at the Carpinteria Veteran’s Memorial Building, which is located at 941 Walnut Avenue in Carpinteria.

“We’re seeing fire embers all over the place”, Kaufmann said.

“It was pushed by strong north winds at 50 MPH, ‘ Lorenzen said”.

Roughly 600 Ventura County firefighters were fighting the blaze at one time or another, whether from the air or the ground; two minor injuries were reported.

Contributed photo/Johnny Corona The Solimar fire moves up the ridge as firefighters work to get the blaze under control from Pacific Coast Highway.

Fire officials had earlier reported that parts of the Pacific Coast Highway also were closed, but a fire department spokeswoman said that only a portion that overlaps 101 was closed. They were fleeing the small community of Solimar Beach and a nearby campground, battling the traffic as the flames edged closer.