Wind-Driven Ventura County Brush Fire Burns 1,238 Acres

SOLIMAR BEACH (CBSLA.com/AP) — About 600 firefighters were battling a 1,238-acre blaze in Ventura County on Saturday.

The fire was first reported around 10:30 Friday night and spread rapidly as 50 mph winds spread embers and fanned flames.

Evacuations were ordered for 60 homes in Solimar Beach, as well as at Solimar beach and Emmawood campgrounds. Voluntary evacuations were in place at Faria Beach.

Firefighters surrounded the threatened homes with fire engines, while others fought the flames with water drops from fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters.

The fire closed the 101 Freeway in both directions for more than 12 hours on a roughly 15-mile northwest between state highways 150 and 33, forcing holiday motorists to narrow backcountry roads.

"We had multiple motorists stranded with the flames impinging on the highway," said Ventura County Fire Battalion Chief Fred Burris. "We had motorists making U-turns going opposing directions on the freeway with other motorists, not realizing the situation."

The CHP reopened both directions of the freeway by 2 p.m.

A portion of the Union Pacific railroad tracks was closed Saturday morning, but reopened to train traffic around 10 a.m.

A Red Cross shelter was set up at the Veterans Memorial Builing, located at 941 Walnut Ave. in Carpinteria.

The fire was 10 percent contained as of 10 a.m., the Ventura County Fire Department said.

At a Saturday evening press conference, officials said the fire was about 60 percent contained as of 5 p.m.

At least 400 firefighters were remaining on scene to continue to battle the blaze. Although the area has "significant brush," officials believed they had the upper hand and expected full containment by Sunday.

No injuries or damages were reported.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

CBS2's Greg Mills spoke to a family visiting the area from the Netherlands.

Maikke Macs said his family of five could see the fire from a distance but didn't realize how big and frightening it was until they got closer.

All at once, he said the fire jumped the 101 Freeway and he had to make a quick turnabout and flee.

They told Mills the entire ordeal lasted only a few seconds but that it felt like an hour.

Another family he spoke to, the Kings, live near the ocean. They told Mills they've experienced fires for 30 years -- but nothing like this one.

"I honestly didn't think it would get this close. And it got close and it's really frightening," said Mona King.

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