Maria Fire Is 20 Percent Contained, All Evacuation Orders Lifted

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SANTA PAULA (CBSLA) – All evacuation orders have been lifted for the Maria Fire, which continued to burn south of Santa Paula. All Red Cross shelters and animal shelters are in the process of being demobilized and no overnight evacuation shelters are available at this time.

Fire personnel continue to make "good progress" containing the  fire, according to the official Ventura County Incident Information website. The fire is currently estimated at 9,412 acres and is 20% contained.

The blaze broke out just after 6 p.m. Thursday in rugged terrain on South Mountain, off of Bradley Road and Solano Verde Drive. Flames could be seen for miles as the fire moved quickly through dry brush and trees, threatening a number of homes and forcing thousands to flee.

On Friday, Southern California Edison said it had notified state regulators that "approximately 13 minutes prior to the fire, SCE re-energized a 16KV circuit near the area of the reported location of the fire."

At least three homes have been destroyed in an area with a number of large properties, ranches and orchards — which helped fuel the fire. As of Saturday morning, there was zero containment reported.

A Red Flag Warning was scheduled to be in effect for the area until 6 p.m. Saturday with widespread elevated fire weather conditions due to low humidity levels, warm weather during the days and persistent winds.