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Maria Fire: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 34°18′08″N 118°59′50″W / 34.302212°N 118.997115°W / 34.302212; -118.997115
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c/e: 6 pm is not late in the evening--at least not in Southern California
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The '''Maria Fire''' is a [[wildfire]] currently burning south of the community of [[Santa_Paula,_California|Santa Paula]] in the area of [[Somis, California]] on the top of South Mountain in [[Ventura_County,_California|Ventura County]]. The fire ignited in the late evening hours of Thursday, October 31, 2019 and has already consumed well over {{Convert|4,000|acre|km2|0}} within its first several hours of burning.<ref name="Massive brush fire erupts">{{cite web|last1=Staff|first1=ABC7|title=Massive brush fire erupts on top of South Mountain near Santa Paula|url=https://abc7.com/massive-brush-fire-erupts-in-santa-paula/5663147/|work=[[KABC-TV|ABC 7 Eyewitness News]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Despite the aggressive initial attack by first responders, the fire exploded rapidly due to a strong [[Santa_Ana_winds|Santa Ana wind]] event that was occurring in the area during its ignition.<ref name="Massive brush fire erupts"/>
The '''Maria Fire''' is a [[wildfire]] currently burning south of the community of [[Santa_Paula,_California|Santa Paula]] in the area of [[Somis, California]] on the top of South Mountain in [[Ventura_County,_California|Ventura County]]. The fire ignited in the evening hours of Thursday, October 31, 2019 and has already consumed well over {{Convert|4,000|acre|km2|0}} within its first several hours of burning.<ref name="Massive brush fire erupts">{{cite web|last1=Staff|first1=ABC7|title=Massive brush fire erupts on top of South Mountain near Santa Paula|url=https://abc7.com/massive-brush-fire-erupts-in-santa-paula/5663147/|work=[[KABC-TV|ABC 7 Eyewitness News]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Despite the aggressive initial attack by first responders, the fire exploded rapidly due to a strong [[Santa_Ana_winds|Santa Ana wind]] event that was occurring in the area during its ignition.<ref name="Massive brush fire erupts"/>


==Events==
==Events==
Late on the eve of Thursday, October 31, at 6:13 pm, the Maria fire was reported burning at the top of South Mountain between Santa Paula and Somis and was seen making an aggressive run southwest towards the community of Somis as the fire expanded throughout that evening.<ref name="South Mountain explodes">{{cite web|last1=Carlson|first1=Cheri|last2=Diskin|first2=Megan|last3=Jazi|first3=Mo Najafian|title=Maria Fire atop South Mountain explodes between Santa Paula and Somis|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2019/10/31/crews-mount-string-response-new-fire-breaks-out-santa-paula/4113674002/|work=[[Ventura_County_Star|VC Star]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Heavily influenced by 20-30 mph winds within the canyons, the fire became a full scale conflagration within its first several hours of burning, growing from 50 to 750 acres inside an hour, to over {{Convert|4,000|acre|km2|0}} by 9:45 pm.<ref name="South Mountain explodes"/><ref name="Explodes to 4,000 acres">{{cite web|last1=Wigglesworth|first1=Alex|title=Brush fire in Ventura County explodes to 4,000 acres, prompting evacuations|url=https://ktla.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-ignites-on-top-of-south-mountain-near-santa-paula/|work=[[Los_Angeles_Times|Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> The fire worked its way north towards Santa Paula in the [[Santa Clara River Valley]], whose topography can serve as a wind tunnel for [[Santa Ana winds]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-31/maria-fire-south-mountain|title=Maria fire charges toward Santa Paula neighborhoods, forcing additional evacuations|date=2019-11-01|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Hanna |last=Fry |first2=Mark |last2=Puente |first3=Rong-Gong |last3=Lin II |first4=Alex |last4=Wigglesworth|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-01}}</ref> Mandatory evacuations were ordered for a wide swath of over 1,800 homes surrounding the fire area, affecting over 7,500 residence.<ref name="South Mountain explodes"/><ref name="Explodes to 4,000 acres"/>
On the eve of Thursday, October 31, at 6:13 pm, the Maria fire was reported burning at the top of South Mountain between Santa Paula and Somis and was seen making an aggressive run southwest towards the community of Somis as the fire expanded throughout that evening.<ref name="South Mountain explodes">{{cite web|last1=Carlson|first1=Cheri|last2=Diskin|first2=Megan|last3=Jazi|first3=Mo Najafian|title=Maria Fire atop South Mountain explodes between Santa Paula and Somis|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2019/10/31/crews-mount-string-response-new-fire-breaks-out-santa-paula/4113674002/|work=[[Ventura_County_Star|VC Star]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Heavily influenced by 20-30 mph winds within the canyons, the fire became a full scale conflagration within its first several hours of burning, growing from 50 to 750 acres inside an hour, to over {{Convert|4,000|acre|km2|0}} by 9:45 pm.<ref name="South Mountain explodes"/><ref name="Explodes to 4,000 acres">{{cite web|last1=Wigglesworth|first1=Alex|title=Brush fire in Ventura County explodes to 4,000 acres, prompting evacuations|url=https://ktla.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-ignites-on-top-of-south-mountain-near-santa-paula/|work=[[Los_Angeles_Times|Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> The fire worked its way north towards Santa Paula in the [[Santa Clara River Valley]], whose topography can serve as a wind tunnel for [[Santa Ana winds]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-31/maria-fire-south-mountain|title=Maria fire charges toward Santa Paula neighborhoods, forcing additional evacuations|date=2019-11-01|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Hanna |last=Fry |first2=Mark |last2=Puente |first3=Rong-Gong |last3=Lin II |first4=Alex |last4=Wigglesworth|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-01}}</ref> Mandatory evacuations were ordered for a wide swath of over 1,800 homes surrounding the fire area, affecting over 7,500 residence.<ref name="South Mountain explodes"/><ref name="Explodes to 4,000 acres"/>


Shortly before 11 pm, a drone had been reported flying over the fireline which immediately caused the suspension and grounding of all nighttime water-dropping helicopters that were currently fighting the fire.<ref name="Maria Fire Ignites">{{cite web|last1=Day|first1=Brian|title=Maria Fire Ignites On Top of South Mountain Near Santa Paula; Thousand Evacuated as Flames Char More Than 4,000 Acres|url=https://ktla.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-ignites-on-top-of-south-mountain-near-santa-paula/|work=[[KTLA]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> This hazard then allowed the incident to continue its critical rate of spread virtually unchecked. By 11:45 pm, the fire had reportedly grown to 7,400 acres with zero containment as the fire progressed predominantly westward.<ref name="Evacuations Ordered">{{cite web|last1=Staff|first1=CBS 2 News|title=Maria Fire: Evacuations Ordered As Brush Fire Erupts In Santa Paula|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-evacuations-ordered-as-brush-fire-erupts-in-santa-paula/|work=[[KCBS-TV]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>
Shortly before 11 pm, a drone had been reported flying over the fireline which immediately caused the suspension and grounding of all nighttime water-dropping helicopters that were currently fighting the fire.<ref name="Maria Fire Ignites">{{cite web|last1=Day|first1=Brian|title=Maria Fire Ignites On Top of South Mountain Near Santa Paula; Thousand Evacuated as Flames Char More Than 4,000 Acres|url=https://ktla.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-ignites-on-top-of-south-mountain-near-santa-paula/|work=[[KTLA]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> This hazard then allowed the incident to continue its critical rate of spread virtually unchecked. By 11:45 pm, the fire had reportedly grown to 7,400 acres with zero containment as the fire progressed predominantly westward.<ref name="Evacuations Ordered">{{cite web|last1=Staff|first1=CBS 2 News|title=Maria Fire: Evacuations Ordered As Brush Fire Erupts In Santa Paula|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-evacuations-ordered-as-brush-fire-erupts-in-santa-paula/|work=[[KCBS-TV]]|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:28, 5 November 2019

Maria Fire
Date(s)October 31, 2019 (2019-10-31) –
LocationSanta Paula, Ventura County, California
Coordinates34°18′08″N 118°59′50″W / 34.302212°N 118.997115°W / 34.302212; -118.997115
Statistics[1]
Burned area6,588 acres (2,666 ha)
Ignition
CauseDowned SCE power line
Map
Maria Fire is located in southern California
Maria Fire
Location in Southern California
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
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8km
5miles
Maria Fire
Maria Fire
Location of Maria Fire

The Maria Fire is a wildfire currently burning south of the community of Santa Paula in the area of Somis, California on the top of South Mountain in Ventura County. The fire ignited in the evening hours of Thursday, October 31, 2019 and has already consumed well over 4,000 acres (16 km2) within its first several hours of burning.[2] Despite the aggressive initial attack by first responders, the fire exploded rapidly due to a strong Santa Ana wind event that was occurring in the area during its ignition.[2]

Events

On the eve of Thursday, October 31, at 6:13 pm, the Maria fire was reported burning at the top of South Mountain between Santa Paula and Somis and was seen making an aggressive run southwest towards the community of Somis as the fire expanded throughout that evening.[3] Heavily influenced by 20-30 mph winds within the canyons, the fire became a full scale conflagration within its first several hours of burning, growing from 50 to 750 acres inside an hour, to over 4,000 acres (16 km2) by 9:45 pm.[3][4] The fire worked its way north towards Santa Paula in the Santa Clara River Valley, whose topography can serve as a wind tunnel for Santa Ana winds.[5] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for a wide swath of over 1,800 homes surrounding the fire area, affecting over 7,500 residence.[3][4]

Shortly before 11 pm, a drone had been reported flying over the fireline which immediately caused the suspension and grounding of all nighttime water-dropping helicopters that were currently fighting the fire.[6] This hazard then allowed the incident to continue its critical rate of spread virtually unchecked. By 11:45 pm, the fire had reportedly grown to 7,400 acres with zero containment as the fire progressed predominantly westward.[7]

During the day of November 1, three different DC-10 air tankers contracted to the US Forest Service (910, 911 and 914) and flying from Santa Maria[8] and San Bernardino airports made multiple runs on the Maria Fire, along with helicopters including an Erickson Skycrane.

Fire growth and containment progress

Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned acres (km2) Containment
Oct 31
Nov 1
Nov 2
Nov 3 9,412 acres (38 km2)[9]
70%
Nov 4 9,412 acres (38 km2)[10]
80%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maria Fire". CAL FIRE. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Staff, ABC7. "Massive brush fire erupts on top of South Mountain near Santa Paula". ABC 7 Eyewitness News. Retrieved 31 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c Carlson, Cheri; Diskin, Megan; Jazi, Mo Najafian. "Maria Fire atop South Mountain explodes between Santa Paula and Somis". VC Star. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b Wigglesworth, Alex. "Brush fire in Ventura County explodes to 4,000 acres, prompting evacuations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  5. ^ Fry, Hanna; Puente, Mark; Lin II, Rong-Gong; Wigglesworth, Alex (2019-11-01). "Maria fire charges toward Santa Paula neighborhoods, forcing additional evacuations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  6. ^ Day, Brian. "Maria Fire Ignites On Top of South Mountain Near Santa Paula; Thousand Evacuated as Flames Char More Than 4,000 Acres". KTLA. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  7. ^ Staff, CBS 2 News. "Maria Fire: Evacuations Ordered As Brush Fire Erupts In Santa Paula". KCBS-TV. Retrieved 31 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Syed, Razi (November 1, 2019). "Air tankers flying out of Santa Maria help keep Maria fire at bay". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved 2019-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Maria Fire" (PDF). CAL FIRE. Retrieved November 4, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Maria Fire" (PDF). CAL FIRE. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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