By David Courtland and Carlos Garcia
Firefighters responded to a brush fire Monday night in the Santa Clara River bottom between Ventura and Oxnard at about 6:50 p.m. The flames were up to 50 fit high and smog was visible from most parts of the Ventura and Oxnard plains.
The Auto Fire, so called because it is near Ventura’s Auto Center, was under contained at about 12:30 am on Tuesday. “When we heard of this fire in Oxnard, we got very scared, because we see so much destruction going on nearby cities, what could not even sleep thinking that it could happen to us here in Oxnard,” said Guadalupe Reyes to VIDA Newspaper.
“Seventy-five to 100 firefighters from Ventura County Fire Department, Oxnard, Ventura and the local military bases, with equipment included a helicopter fought the flames what were contained and under control as of about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday and remained on scene to avoid further contingences”, said to VIDA Newspaper Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Captain Andrew Dowd.
People stopped and filmed the fire as they passed it on Hwy. 101 southbound creating a dangerous situation and near mayor accidents. The Auto Fire followed two major conflagrations in Los Angeles County, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which remain active. These fires had created mayor devastations and caused the dead of over 25 residents.
Because of the fire’s location in the river bottom the fire was not expected to threaten any structures, although there was some damage to the River Ridge Golf Course. During the fire there were several roads and streets closed for rapid access to fire personnel and to avoid any harm to local residents. Approximately 65 acres were burned and it was contained to the river bottom, no structures were threatened..
No cause for the fire has been determined at this time, but there is an investigation going on, said Dowd.