Earth Observatory
Posted on 12/04/2006 10:00:11 AM PST by bd476
Fire update: Air battle begins early
By Star staff
December 4, 2006
Updated: 8:45 a.m. Fire crews battling the wind-whipped Shekell fire took to the air this morning to try to get control of the blaze that has burned nearly 10,000 acres.
Nine helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft went up at 7 a.m. to battle the fire that began early Sunday morning in Moorpark. It has destroyed five structures, including a building at the long-abandoned Egg City facility on Grimes Canyon Road, and damaged five others.
Getting the aircraft in the air was a major accomplishment for the crews. Their flying was limited Sunday because of the fierce winds that gusted up to 70 miles per hour. Aircraft must be grounded when winds hit 25 miles per hour.
On Sunday the firefighters were able to use some helicopters but not fixed-wing aircraft because of the winds. A D-10, like the one used on September's Day fire, was on standby in Lancaster and could be used today.
"We are expecting to hit it hard from the air and hit it hard from the ground," said Capt. Barry Parker, spokesman for Ventura County Fire Department.
More than 1,000 firefighters from agencies throughout Southern California are on the lines.
The acreage burned remained just under 10,000 acres and firefighters were looking to protect not only homes and people but the agricultural lands that dot the outskirts of Moorpark and Somis.
Winds were expected to continue to be a factor today but were expected to be sustained at about 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 45, which would be calmer than Sunday.
Parker said with the arrival of more firefighters, crews could begin to think about containment and not just keeping property from being destroyed. Firefighters hope to get some containment today, he said.
Early today, firefighters were still most concerned about the north side of Moorpark where about 75 homes were being threatened. Winds were pushing the fire west limiting the exposure to the Fillmore area, which had been a concern late Sunday.
Firefighters were working to keep the fire east of Balcom Canyon Road, south of Guiberson Road and South Mountain Road, north of Highway 118 and west of Alamos Canyon.
Highway 118 in the Moorpark and Somis area reopened this morning after being closed briefly as firefighters battled the wind-driven fire. The highway was closed between 4 and 5:42 a.m.
Ventura County remains under a high-wind warning until 3 p.m. Tuesday. The schools in the Moorpark Unified School District were closed today and a number of roads in the Moorpark area remained closed to all but residents.
Roads still closed according to the Sheriffs Department were: Highway 23 north of Casey Road; Gabbert Road north from Los Angeles Avenue; Grimes Canyon Road at Los Angeles Avenue; Balcom Canyon Road at Los Angeles Avenue; Bradley Road at Los Angeles Avenue; Walnut Canyon Road at Championship Drive; Highway 23 at Bardsdale Road, and Princeton/Campus Park Drive.
The fire began about 2:30 a.m. Sunday on Shekell Road at Grimes Canyon Road near the old Egg City complex. About 7 a.m. Sunday a second fire began farther east near Happy Camp Road and Broadway. The fires later merged into what has become the Shekell fire.
As the wind propelled the inferno, fire officials estimated about 3,000 residences were threatened.
Many people evacuated their homes with the Red Cross opening shelters at Royal High School in Simi Valley and the Thousand Oaks Community Center in Thousand Oaks.
Updated National Weather Service Bulletin
Zero percent containment.
BurbankKarl wrote: "City of LA planning evacs from 118 on the north, Devonshire on the south, Mason on the west, Tampa on the east."
!!
Karl, where, when did you see this??
(Breathe)
Karl, please let me know what they're saying. I can't find my links to the online scanners.
This cannot be related to the fire. No way.
From what I heard, there was something burning of Witnetka....someone lit a fire yesterday at Tampa/118....probably the same dude.
I hope that one of the news outlets will provide more information about this.
it was on one of our local stations in the Bay Area,, not sure of source.. could be Kabc or Kcal or Ktla or ?
it was pretty nasty like when it rains or sleets horizontal ,, very dangerous cuz there could be some debris flying around too..
Let me know if you hear anything else on this. Too close to home, and I just got a new roof on the house - it is being finished today!
Click for video
Ventura FiRe
KNBC
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/10453186/detail.html?dl=mainclick
KCBS video Dec 4, 2006 9:37 am US/Pacific
Fire Threatens Hundreds Of Homes In Moorpark
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_337114739.html
Man,....wonder why we are NOT getting that much of a breeze down here?
See #30.
Prayers, Chili Girl. Keep us posted.
Santa Ana winds are coming from the North and East blowing West. There are many foothills, canyons and valleys between you and the system which brought in this set of Santa Anas.
They're still blowing today, but less so than yesterday.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks Norm.
Thanks Norm.
My computer crashed. I'm still looking for more information. Please let me know when you hear anything. Thanks Karl.
Thanks for the update, ZGuy!
That's a lot of ash. Hope all affected have and are wearing good air filter masks.
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