A fire that scorched 1,238 acres in Ventura County was 60 percent contained by Saturday afternoon. Jane Yamamoto reports for the NBC4 News at 6 on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015.
A wind-driven brush fire that grew to 1,236 acres, forcing road closures and mandatory evacuations in Solimar Beach near Ventura, was ignited by a downed power line, fire officials said Saturday.
Fire officials said the blaze was 70 percent contained, and evacuation orders would be lifted.
No structures were lost.
More than 600 firefighters from multiple agencies were assisting in the blaze, which erupted Friday night, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
The California Highway Patrol shut down a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, the northbound 101 Freeway at State Route 33, the southbound 101 Freeway at Bates Road, and the Union Pacific Railroads.
Both directions of the 101 Freeway as well as Pacific Coast Highway were reopened Saturday afternoon, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
Fire crews faced strong northwest winds of up to 25 mph and said the fire posed a threat to oil, gas, power and rail infrastructure. Officials said they anticipate the firefight will last up to three days.
At an early press conference Saturday, officials said no homes were immediately being threatened, and evacuations were still in place. At least 50 homes were under mandatory evacuation in the Solimar Beach community and area campgrounds, Capt. Mike Lindberry said. Another 30 homes were subject to voluntary evacuation in Faria Beach.
Mandatory evacuation orders were to be lifted, officials said at a 5 p.m. news conference.
The Red Cross Santa Margerita chapter set up an evacuation center in the Carpinteria Veterans Memorial Building at 941 Walnut Avenue in Carpinteria.
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Responding agencies included the Ventura County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura City Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Paula City Fire Department, CAL-FIRE, Ventura County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol.
No injuries were reported.
About 400 firefighters were to work overnight to ensure the blaze was under control.
