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A powerful wildfire in Southern California is raging out of control, fueled by high winds and dry conditions, and has already caused significant damage to homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. As firefighters battle the blaze, the situation remains critical.

The Mountain Fire ignited early Wednesday morning in Ventura County, located northwest of Los Angeles. By Thursday evening, the fire had scorched more than 20,000 acres and was only 5% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

In response to the escalating threat, evacuation orders have been expanded to cover 12 zones in the region. Emergency crews are concentrating their efforts on the northeastern edge of the fire near the city of Santa Paula.

Injuries and Property Damage

Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff confirmed that at least 10 people have been injured, including several cases of smoke inhalation. Thankfully, none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

Over 400 homes have been evacuated, while about 250 residents have chosen to remain behind despite the danger. In addition, emergency responders visited around 800 other homes to check on residents who were not present at the time of the evacuation order.

“The devastation is just heart-wrenching,” Sheriff Fryhoff said. “It’s a very difficult situation for the families affected.”

Teams of officials have been inspecting the area to assess the damage. As of Thursday afternoon, they reported that at least 132 structures, most of them homes, have been destroyed, and 88 others have sustained damage. However, there is still a considerable amount of property that has yet to be evaluated.

“This process is slow and thorough,” said Ventura County Fire spokesperson Andy VanSciver. “We have to make sure that all potential hazards are cleared, such as gas and electrical lines, before conducting further inspections.”

Fire Threatens Thousands of Structures

Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated that over 3,500 structures are at risk due to the wildfire. He visited Ventura County on Thursday to receive updates on the damage and ongoing firefighting efforts.

“This fire is spreading at an alarming rate,” said Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. “We’re seeing rapid burns in grass, brush, and buildings. It’s moving dangerously fast.”

Photographs from the scene show homes completely engulfed in flames and thick clouds of smoke filling the sky. Firefighters have been working tirelessly to protect homes and businesses, but the blaze continues to grow.

In addition to the fire itself, authorities have proactively shut off power in some areas to prevent new fires from igniting. As of Thursday evening, over 50,000 residents were without power due to these precautionary measures.

Rancher Escapes with Horses as Fire Spreads

Hilda Gurney, an 81-year-old ranch owner in Ventura County, had to quickly evacuate her property as the fire approached. Gurney, who has owned Keenridge Farms since the 1970s and is a two-time Olympic equestrian, managed to escape with her horses.

“We barely made it out,” Gurney said. “The fire came over the hill so quickly. There was no time to waste.”

She brought her horses to the Ventura County Fairgrounds, where they were cared for by volunteers. Despite fears that her ranch had been destroyed, Gurney learned that Keenridge Farms was still standing as of Thursday morning.

“I’m holding onto hope that I’ll be able to return soon,” she said.

Weather Conditions Improve, but Fire Danger Remains

While winds in the area have started to calm, the risk of further fire danger remains high. Earlier on Thursday, 26 million Californians were under red flag warnings, indicating extreme fire danger. Many of these warnings have expired, but some remain in effect for mountainous regions until Friday morning.

Meteorologists also warned of a possible weak-to-moderate Santa Ana wind event next week, which could once again increase the risk of fires.

“The weather is improving, but we’re not in the clear yet,” said Dr. Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “Winds are subsiding now, but we’ll need to keep an eye on conditions next week.”

Difficult Terrain and Strong Winds Make Fighting the Fire Harder

Firefighters are struggling with the difficult terrain of the northeastern part of the fire, which has become the focus of their efforts. The area is steep and rugged, making it difficult to access, but air support is being used to assist with the firefighting effort.

“The fire is in a tough area,” said Captain Trevor Johnson of Ventura County Fire. “It’s steep and rough, and only our most skilled firefighters can work there. We’re using helicopters and planes to try to contain the blaze.”

Strong winds have been carrying embers up to three miles, making it harder to control the fire’s spread.

“These types of fires are much more challenging when the winds are so strong,” said Drew Smith, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “We’re dealing with a situation where fires are being pushed by the wind, making containment a real struggle.”

Firefighters Pledge to Stay with Community Through Crisis

Firefighters and first responders have been working long shifts since the fire started, some for as long as 36 hours straight. Despite the challenges, Fire Chief Dustin Gardner reassured the public that responders would continue to assist residents as soon as it was safe to do so.

“This is a remarkable display of strength and dedication,” Gardner said. “We will stay with the community until the very end. We’ll be here to help residents with the recovery process when the time comes.”

Firefighters will continue to work in the area for the coming days, and community liaisons will be available to assist with anything evacuees need, from heavy lifting to emotional support.

“We’re in this for the long haul,” Gardner added. “We will not leave the community behind.”