Firefighters in Ventura County were battling two brush fires Monday night, which came on the heels of a warning by forecasters that this week would bring elevated fire weather conditions.
The Howe fire, the larger blaze, had blackened about 40 acres and was burning in steep terrain south of the unincorporated town of Piru in the area around the Santa Clara River. Helicopters were at the scene Monday evening, making drops on the flames.
Air tankers and additional helicopters had been called in to help, the Ventura County Fire Department said, and 140 firefighters were “on scene or en route.”
The Howe fire was first reported at about 6:20 p.m. Monday near Torrey Canyon and East Guiberson roads, south of the river. Mild winds were expected to send smoke to the east, county officials said.
About 16 miles to the southwest, firefighters had contained the Maria fire by Monday evening, also along the river bottom, south of Santa Paula.
The Maria fire burned about 15 acres, and about 140 firefighters were involved in the battle, along with three helicopters and one dozer.
The fire was first reported around 3:20 p.m. and was initially reported at 5 acres. Firefighters declared the fire contained at 7 p.m. but said crews would continue cleanup operations into the evening.
The National Weather Service office in Oxnard warned of elevated fire weather conditions across swaths of Southern California this week — conditions that could turn critical during brief periods.
On Tuesday, temperatures could hit 89 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, 90 in Anaheim, 97 in Riverside and Ontario, 100 in San Bernardino, 101 in Palmdale, 102 in Woodland Hills and 103 in Santa Clarita. Similar temperatures are expected to persist on Wednesday.
Forecasters warned of an “increased risk for grass fires, with potential for rapid spread due to gusty winds, hot temperatures, and very low humidities.”
Areas of concern for fire weather include the Ventura County mountains; the Grapevine section of Interstate 5, which includes the Tejon Pass; the Antelope Valley and foothills; the Santa Ynez mountains and foothills down to Santa Barbara County’s south coast; and San Luis Obispo County’s interior valleys.
In the coming days, there’s a 30% to 40% chance of officials ordering a red flag fire weather warning for the Grapevine area and the Santa Ynez Mountains.
The post Crews battle pair of blazes in Ventura County as forecasters warn of elevated fire conditions appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
