A California Department of Forestry air tanker drops fire retardant on the Day Fire at the eastern end of Ojai Valley Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006, north of Ojai, Calif.
Posted on 09/17/2006 12:57:10 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Last night, the Day Fire exploded, burning 50,000 acres and traveling 11 miles west.
from AP
Sep 17, 2006 11:48 am US/Pacific
Day Wildfire Explodes Westward, Threatens Fillmore (AP) CASTAIC, Calif. Offshore winds are fanning a huge wildfire burning in the Los Padres National Forest, prompting voluntary evacuations for portions of Fillmore and a group of homes along a highway connecting Santa Paula and Ojai.
U.S. Forest Service officials say that since yesterday afternoon, winds have pushed the so-called Day Fire about 10 miles west and have burned several thousand new acres.
It has scorched more than 125 square miles and is 15 percent surrounded.
The fire is threatening northwest Fillmore -- a city of about 14,000 people, located 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
Mandatory evacuations have not yet been issued.
Winds out of the north and northwest are expected at up to 25 miles per hour today, and a Red Flag warning is in place through tomorrow morning.
from socalfire
This morning's 209 shows 80,015 acres have burned @ 15% contained.
> This is up from 31,571 acres on last nights 209. At 1730 hours a
> strong Santa Ana condition aligned with topography causing the fire to
> make a major run on the west perimeter. A major 8 mile wide fire front
> pushed to the west, exhibiting extreme fire behavior with spotting up
> to 1 mile ahead of the front. The fire moved 11 miles as of 4 AM,
> burning over 50,000 acres.
>
> Due to high winds and safety concerns, all resources were removed from
> direct attack on the fire. Structure protection plans were implemented
> in the areas affected by the fire front that developed at 1730 hours.
> Potential closure notifications continued in the communities of Ojai
> and Fillmore. Equipment and personnel were positioned in the
> communities of Ojai and Fillmore for structure protection, if needed.
>
> With Santa Ana winds and topography in alignment, coupled with low
> humidity and poor humidity recovery overnight, the fire will continue
> to have potential for prolonged runs towards the west southwest. Fire
> is projected to move through Rose Valley by late morning and across
> Hwy 33 in the afternoon. The fire is expected to progress steadily
> southerly and northerly by backing and flanking, reaching the town of
> Fillmore by late afternoon and continuing towards the communities of
> Santa Paula and Ojai
ping
My parents live near Fillmore. Time to make a call and see whether they affected.
this link has a web cam. You have to manually refresh. It's an alpaca farm with a great view of the fire plume. That plume has built a good bit the last hour.
http://www.lonejuniper.com/alpacacam/
I'd love to live in that valley - used to take it regularly when we'd drive (via the 126) from Newhall over to Ventura and/or points north.
Video here: http://cbs2.com/
Ventura County Emergency Operations Center Activated Due To Massive Day Fire
(Ventura, CA) -- The out of control Day Fire in the Los Padres National Forest has prompted Ventura County officials to open their emergency operations center. EOC officials say the now 80-thousand acre fire is threatening the towns of Fillmore, Santa Paula and Ojai. Residents living in the northwest portion of Fillmore are being warned to get ready to leave, including those who live on Goodenough Road and Grand Avenue north of Telegraph Road. Additionally, people who live along Highway 150 between Santa Paula and Ojai are being warned. Shelters have been set for both people and animals. For evacuation information call 805-654-3593. For animal shelters call 805-388-4341
SOURCE: http://cbs2.com/localbriefs#story1
There are a couple brush fires burning now....1 in Santa Clarita, 1 down near a refinery, big one in Riverside, and the Day Incident.
Wow. I had no idea it jumped so badly today. The local news this morning said it was holding about the same. Guess those winds really kicked in today. It was terribly windy out of the northeast here yesterday, which usually means the valleys and basin get socked the next day or second day after.
Are the towns really in that much trouble?
Santa Paula is the home of Thomas Aquinas College. Won't be the first time the boys are out on the fringes of the campus with shovels and bibles!
I see the Ojai Valley Gun Club hasn't updated since yesterday. http://www.dock.net/ovgc/ They're northwest (?) of Ojai, so I don't know how they'll be affected.
My sister-in-law in in Santa Barbara and says it looks like nuclear winter there.
I just saw on one of my local mailing lists: "We just got home from Devil's Punchbowl (Sunday at 3:40), and saw smoke over Acton. Has anyone heard anything?"
Fires are breaking out all over the place.
There was a start on Lancaster Road in the Poppy Reserve...but it didnt jump the roads...so they put it out quickly.
A California Department of Forestry air tanker drops fire retardant on the Day Fire at the eastern end of Ojai Valley Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006, north of Ojai, Calif.
As a precaution, the Ventura County Fire Department advised the evacuations of residences in the Upper Ojai, Matilija Canyon and Wheeler Gorge areas. Search and Rescue teams early today airlifted nine Boys Scouts and their leaders from a campsite at Piedra Blanca in the Upper Lyons Camp area.
Highway 150 from Ojai to Santa Paula was closed.
There was a start recently out my way.. 50th east and Avenue J. It looked awful but they got it under control quickly.
Looking southwesterly this evening, I see really ugly brown haze (worse than the usual L.A. haze). It's either the Santa Clarita blaze or something else is running around Acton or Agua Dulce.
That is all smoke from the Day fire....it looks overcast to the west the the clouds are pink and purple
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