Wildfire flames along Southern California coast close highways, spur evacuations
Story highlights
- Over 1,200 acres have burned in the Solimar Fire, a county fire department says
- Parts of Interstate 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway shut down in Ventura County
- A county fire captain says, "We're seeing fire embers all over the place"
(CNN)Parts
of two of Southern California's most well-known highways shut down
early Saturday due to a wildfire that has burned hundreds of acres and
spurred mandatory evacuations, authorities said.
Traffic
on U.S. Highway 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway -- which run
alongside each other on the West Coast -- was closed off in both
directions in Ventura County due to what has been labeled the Solimar
Fire.
Winds
drove flames through drought-stricken vegetation and within striking
distance of area beaches, in addition to "bumping against the roadway,"
Ventura County Fire Capt. Steve Kaufmann said in a video posted to his
department's Facebook page.
"We're seeing fire embers all over the place," Kaufmann said.
The
fast-moving blaze burned through Christmas night and into Saturday,
with more than 1,200 acres torched as of 9 a.m. (noon ET), according to Ventura County Fire spokesman Capt. Mike Lindberry.
By that time, some 600 firefighters were at the scene or en route while four fixed-wing aerial tankers were on the way.
Mother Nature wasn't doing much to help, with clear or mostly sunny skies forecast for the next week, according to the National Weather Service. But wind is an even bigger problem, including sustained winds of 15-20 mph on Saturday and gusts as strong as 30 mph.
Similar conditions should prevail into Sunday, at which point a wind advisory should still be in effect.
While it's far from the
biggest wildfire California has faced in recent memory, the Solimar Fire
is affecting not only travelers but residents in this community about
70 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.
People
in the Solimar Beach area have been ordered to leave their homes,
according to the county fire department, while a voluntary evacuation
notice has gone out for people in Faria Beach, a short distance up the
coast.
Crews on 10 to 15 fire engines
fought the flames Saturday morning, trying to protect structures and
contain "fire that's up and down the hill," according to Kaufmann.
He urged that anyone who leaves for higher ground to close all their windows and doors first.
"Make
sure everything is buttoned up tight," Kaufmann said. "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."
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