Fire no match for Ventura County firefighters

FILLING UP FOR ANOTHER DROP—A helicopter departs with water from Lake Sherwood. The water was destined to be dropped on a fire that was quickly put out last Sunday south of Thousand Oaks. A brush fire in Thousand Oaks on Sunday was 100 percent contained by the Ventura County Fire Department within nine hours.

The fire began at around 11:20 a.m. and was fully contained at 8:20 p.m. after 400 firefighters, 60 engines and six bulldozers attacked the blaze south of the 101 Freeway at Rancho Road and northwest of Triunfo Community Park in Westlake.

Ten strike teams, four helicopters and four air tankers also participated.

A large cloud of white smoke could be seen from the southern mountains just west of city hall.

The fire burned 56 acres and is still under investigation. The cause is unknown, which means it could be due to accident or arson, fire department spokesperson Capt. Ron Oatman said.

STOPPING IT FROM SPREADING—Fire retardant is dropped on the Rancho fire on Sun., Oct. 4 n Thousand Oaks. Firefighters had the blaze 100 percent contained in nine hours. Because of the wind, the open space full of dry brush and neighborhoods nearby, the fire department leadership quickly called in help from Los Angeles County, the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Long Beach, and the surrounding areas.

The fire was fought mostly from the air at first because it began in a rugged area that was hard to reach with firetrucks, Oatman said.

Low-flying aircraft repeatedly dropped fire retardant and water on the blaze.

The water tanks were filled from nearby Lake Sherwood, Oatman said.

Residents of Colt Lane, Rimrock Road, Tamarack Street and Skyline Drive were ready to evacuate.

Those with horses had trailers ready; some of them, as a precaution, packed up their animals and took them to the equestrian center off Avenida de Las Flores.

For fire prevention, the fire department suggests the removal of all flammable vegetation within 100 feet of homes.

Single trees, ornamental shrubbery or cultivated ground cover may be permitted as long as they don’t easily transfer fire to structures.

Plants that are more combustible include acacia, cedar, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, pine and pampas grass.

Houses at the top of a slope, with a wood shake roof, with limited access for the fire department or with adjacent ornamental shrubbery are at greater risk for fire. So are older homes and those in previous fire areas or surrounded by heavy chaparral fuels, with limited or a private water supply or more than five miles from a fire station. The fire department strongly recommends an increase in brush clearance from 100 feet to 200 feet for homes at greater risk. Trees and shrubs need to be trimmed off the ground 2 feet or one-third the height of the tree, whichever is less.