Traffic on U.S. Highway 101 and Pacific Coast Highway, which run parallel to one another along the West Coast, was closed off in both directions in Ventura County on Saturday in what is being called the Solimar fire.
Ventura County Fire Captain Steve Kaufmann said in a video posted to his department’s Facebook page that winds were driving flames through drought-stricken vegetation and were now within striking distance of area beaches, including butting up to both sides of the highways, according to WTVR.com.
The fire was fast-moving, burning through Christmas night and into Saturday, with 1,000 acres scorched by 5:20 a.m., California time, according to Ventura Fire Department spokesman, Mike Lindberry. At that time, there were over 500 firefighters on the scene or en route.
With clear and mostly sunny skies forecast for the coming week, the biggest problem is going to be the winds. On Saturday, there are sustained winds of 15-20 mph being forecast, with gusts up to 30 mph on into Sunday. It looks like this fire is going to be another tough one for the drought-stricken state.
Even though this fire is not the biggest wildfire California has faced recently, it is still very dangerous. Not only are travelers being affected, but residents 70 miles away in western Los Angeles. People in Solimar Beach have been ordered to evacuate, while in the small community of Faria Beach on up the coast, people there are under a voluntary evacuation order.
Kaufman is urging everyone that is moving to higher ground to be sure and close all the windows and doors in their homes first. “Make sure everything is buttoned up tight,” Kaufmann said, according to Fox News. “If you leave any window or door or garage door open, that’s just an entrance for one of these embers … to get into your house. We don’t want that to happen.”
