A rapidly spreading wildfire in Southern California has destroyed at least 132 structures, primarily homes, as powerful winds fueled the flames, fire officials reported. The fast-moving blaze, known as the “Mountain Fire,” ignited on Wednesday and has grown to around 32 square miles, prompting mandatory evacuations for over 10,000 residents.
The fire has already injured 10 people, mostly due to smoke inhalation, according to Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff. Nearly 88 other structures have been damaged, though officials did not confirm if these were affected by flames, smoke, or water damage. Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the fire, though conditions were primed for disaster.
The fire is threatening over 3,500 additional structures, and crews are working around the clock, supported by water-dropping helicopters, to prevent the fire from advancing toward Santa Paula, a city with a population exceeding 30,000. Electricity companies, in a preventive measure, have cut power to thousands of customers in the region to reduce the risk of new fires from wind-damaged power lines.
Meteorologists had issued a Red Flag Warning and a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) warning, signaling the potential for dangerous fire conditions driven by two years of above-average rainfall. This unusual weather pattern spurred vegetation growth, which, following a hot summer, is now bone-dry, creating a volatile environment for wildfires.
The Mountain Fire has ignited in areas previously devastated by significant wildfires, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which claimed three lives and destroyed 1,600 homes, and the 2017 Thomas Fire, which ravaged Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, consuming over 1,000 structures.
