MOORPARK, California (AP) -- A fire driven by strong Santa Ana winds Sunday destroyed five homes and a storage building and endangered hundreds of others in canyons and hillsides, authorities said.
The blaze burned about 4,100 acres, or six square miles, destroying five homes and damaging five others, Ventura County Fire Capt. Barry Parker said.
Fire officials called for voluntary evacuations as hundreds of residents packed up valuables while dozens of trailers used to transport livestock were lined up on a road.
Some residents, however, stayed put and said they saw flames as high as 35 feet. In one neighborhood, the fire came within 100 yards of homes.
"I'm kinda nervous," said Arturo Huerta, 88, who got on top of the family's home with hose in hand and watched for burning embers.
The blaze began at 2:30 a.m. and burned through heavy brush, eucalyptus groves and orchards in the northwest section of Moorpark, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Several hundred firefighters and water-dropping helicopters were hampered by 70 mph winds that were expected to last through the end of Sunday.
"We are in a structure protection mode," Parker said. "It's smoky, it's dusty and it's hard to breathe."
There was no containment figures and no injuries were reported.
The causes of the fires were under investigation.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The blaze burned about 4,100 acres, or six square miles, destroying five homes and damaging five others, Ventura County Fire Capt. Barry Parker said.
Fire officials called for voluntary evacuations as hundreds of residents packed up valuables while dozens of trailers used to transport livestock were lined up on a road.
Some residents, however, stayed put and said they saw flames as high as 35 feet. In one neighborhood, the fire came within 100 yards of homes.
"I'm kinda nervous," said Arturo Huerta, 88, who got on top of the family's home with hose in hand and watched for burning embers.
The blaze began at 2:30 a.m. and burned through heavy brush, eucalyptus groves and orchards in the northwest section of Moorpark, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Several hundred firefighters and water-dropping helicopters were hampered by 70 mph winds that were expected to last through the end of Sunday.
"We are in a structure protection mode," Parker said. "It's smoky, it's dusty and it's hard to breathe."
There was no containment figures and no injuries were reported.
The causes of the fires were under investigation.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS WAS EVACUATED FROM HER HOME BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS IN HER BACKYARD, BUT LUCKILY THE WINDS CHANGED AND HER HOME WAS SAVED.
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