A new blaze, named the Auto Fire, ignited late Monday in Ventura County, an area currently facing the highest fire threat due to increasing winds. Local fire departments swiftly responded to the situation.
The Ventura County Fire Department reported that the fire is currently affecting 5 acres of medium fuels with a moderate rate of spread. Around 75 firefighters are on the scene, actively working to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
The flames were initially spotted in the river bottom area of Oxnard at approximately 7:14 p.m., as per a California Highway Patrol incident report. In response to the escalating situation, evacuation orders were issued for the affected area by Cal Fire.
This new fire incident coincides with the Storm Prediction Center's recent declaration of an 'extremely critical fire' area, the highest level of fire threat, impacting over 2 million individuals. The affected regions include Oxnard, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley.
