Highway 101 closed by brush fire in Ventura County

The Ventura County Fire Department reported two minor injuries to firefighters, one an ankle injury and the other an injury to a knee.

Heavy winds whipped a brush fire in Southern California on Saturday into a 1,250 acre blaze – with officials warning it could take at least three days to get the flames fully under control. Evacuations were promptly ordered in the Solimar Beach area, forcing locals out of their homes and nearby campers onto the roads while the fire quickly spread overnight.

As of 9 a.m., the Solimar Fire was estimated at 1,200 acres, with 600 firefighters on scene or en route to help fight the fire, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

“The fire is being pushed by a strong northwest wind and now poses a threat to oil, gas, power and rail infrastructure”, Ventura County officials wrote on vcemergency.com.

A 900-acre fire erupted west of Ventura, Calif., on December 26, 2015, shutting down HIghway 101 and the Pacific Coast HIghway. Fire officials could not be reached for an update. Officials recommend and alternate route to be from State Route 150 up to State Route 33 and onto Highway 101.

“This is the largest brush fire we’ve had in a couple years”, said Capt. Mike Lindbery, a spokesman for Ventura County Fire.

The fire was just 10 percent contained as of late this morning, according to CalFire.

Similar conditions should prevail into Sunday, at which point a wind advisory should still be in effect. The Red Cross has opened a shelter in the area as firefighters work to save homes near Solimar Beach.

The National Weather Service predicts 6-12 miles per hour winds through the morning, shifting to weak westerly winds by the afternoon.

Residents from as many as 100 homes that had evacuated from Solimar and Faria beaches were then allowed to return to their homes.

“We certainly don’t want to see slides coming down into the 101 freeway”, Lindbery said.