California wildfire closes freeway for a while, forces evacuations

More than 600 firefighters battled the blaze in the Solimar Beach area of Ventura County, and parts of U.S. Highway 101 were closed, county fire department officials said at a news conference.

At its peak, the fire closed a 15-mile stretch of an adjacent, six-lane freeway, USA 101, and another major north-south route, the Pacific Coast Highway.

REUTERS/Patrick T. FallonCharred bicycle parts stand in a makeshift encampment during the aftermath of a wildfire in the Solimar Beach area of Ventura County, California December 26, 2015. Officials said that the fire was at 10 per cent containment on Saturday afternoon.

Spokesman Tom Kruschke says a downed power line on private property caused the fire, which has spread to 1,250 acres. In a press briefing Saturday morning, authorities said homes were under mandatory evacuation in the Solimar Beach community and another 30 homes were subject to voluntary evacuation in Faria Beach. According to Ventura County Fire officials, the flames were visible about 150 feet from the sand.

Fire crews also lifted the evacuation order and reopened the scenic 101 highway along the Southern California coast.

Maks said there weren’t any roadblocks preventing them from driving through the heart of the blaze, adding they “Saw the fire 30 minutes before we actually passed it, but we didn’t realize it was this big and frightening”. The Pacific Coast Highway was closed in both directions from the State Beaches exit to Seacliff Road temporarily, and was reopen also around 5 p.m., according to Santa Barbara County officials. At 1,236 acres, it is 70 percent contained.

About 60 residents were allowed to go home Saturday evening after mandatory evacuations had been issued early that morning.

Santa Paula firefighters attack hot spots from the Solimar Fire along 101 Freeway.

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

Two firefighters are reported to have suffered ankle and knee injuries due to the rocky terrain.

No lost homes or injuries have been reported and the 1200 acre blaze is now under control.