Brush fire kindles fear but causes little damage
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HILLSIDES CHARRED IN CONEJO VALLEY--A Thousand Oaks wildfire burns the hills on the south side of the city. It was first reported to authorities at 4:35 p.m. Monday. It started in the vicinity of Hampshire Road and Foothill Drive, and was visible to rushhour commuters on the 101 Freeway. Two hundred firefighters from Ventura and L.A. county fire departments, the Los Angeles Fire Department and the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection fought the blaze. Wind-blown sparks and embers scattered the flames toward the south. The cause of the 30-acre fire is under investigation.

When the Ventura County Fire Department officially closed the fire season on Jan. 15, Mother Nature didn't get the memo.

Fortunately, fire season or not, the fire department is always prepared.

"Whenever there is a Red Flag alert, the game is on," fire department spokesman Capt. Barry Parker said.

A Red Flag warning means the National Weather Service has determined that critical fire weather conditions exist.

It means that low humidity and gusty winds have created the perfect conditions for wildfires.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers

Those were the conditions when the Foothill fire began on 4:35 p.m. Monday with winds taking the humidity away from already dry, brown brush, Parker said.

The colder temperatures weren't enough to avoid the potentially dangerous fire, now 100 percent contained, that burned 30 acres in the Hampshire Road and Foothill Drive area in Thousand Oaks.

"As long as you have wind, you have fire weather," he said. "Fire weather will continue until the winds diminish and we get the moisture we need to change the brush from brown to green."

Extra staff, bulldozers, dispatchers and whatever staffing the fire department needs will stay at the ready, Parker said.

It took about 200 firefighters from Ventura County, Los Angeles County, the city of Los Angeles and the California Department of Forestry, along with two water-dropping helicopters and other resources under the direction of Ventura County Fire Department, to protect about 20 homes threatened by flames that reached about 50 feet high, Parker said.

East winds blowing at about 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph were pushing the flames, he said.

The brush was heavy and the terrain was steep, making it inaccessible for the fire engines. But after it was over, there were no structures or homes burned and no injuries.

"It seems like a small fire, but it had the potential to become a big one," Parker said.

On Tuesday, engine companies, hand crews and a helicopter continued working to get the fire contained and to mop up the hot spots.

By 6 p.m. containment was complete.

"The foremost reason for success was the efforts of the firefighters," Parker said.

Also contributing to the positive outcome were residents who had complied with weed-abatement efforts to create fire breaks between the dense vegetation and their homes. The fire department calls this "defensible space" and firefighters are always glad to see it. Construction codes for the new homes in the area helped by requiring tile roofs and stucco exteriors, Parker said.

Ventura County residents are encouraged to follow fire-safe practices at home, such as replacing combustible growth with fireretardant plants.

"This incident is a reminder that wildfires can occur at any time of the year," Parker said.

Los Angeles County never opens or closes its fire season, he said.

Although the Ventura County Fire Department closes its season, that doesn't significantly change how it operates, Parker said. About 10 temporary employees are hired during fire season, and that hand crew is normally let go when the season officially closes. Response levels are increased when needed.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Ventura County Fire Department and the Ventura County Sheriff 's Department, Parker said.

"We've ruled out that the fire was started by power lines, but that is all we've ruled out at this time," he said.

Contact a local fire station for fire safety literature, or visit www.fire.countyofventura.org.