By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Almost 100 area firefighters responded to a fast moving fire in heavy brush near the Santa Clara River in east Ventura, which was kept at two acres before it was extinguished.
Firefighters from Ventura City, Ventura County and Santa Paula departments as well as personnel from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded to the blaze, reported Tuesday, January 7th around 12:18 p.m. in the river bottom at the extreme south end of Saticoy Avenue. The outbreak of fire was near North Bank Drive and Cabrillo Village, east of Ventura.
When firefighters arrived on scene the fire was estimated at three-quarters of an acre but the dry brush soon doubled the size of the burn area, which doubled again.
Firefighters jumped on the blaze ordering a full brush fire response, which brought numerous engine companies, hand crews and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department helicopter to drop water on the blaze.
With cool overcast skies, no wind and the aggressive response, the fire stayed in the river bottom and was contained by about 1:10 p.m.
No structures were threatened and there were no reports of injuries.
A Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
