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UPDATE: 4:54 p.m.
A brush fire is burning near Fillmore, with strong winds pushing it into the Moorpark area.
The fire has burned an estimated 6,000 acres since it started around 10:30 a.m. with fire officials stating the cause of the fire is due to spontaneous combustion of manure from a local ranch.
Ventura County Fire Officials are reporting minor injuries to two fire fighters, and damage to two structures.
A portion of Highway 23 at Elkins Road has been closed by the California Highway Patrol.
The blaze is burning in a southwestern direction towards Moorpark and the Happy Camp Canyon Area.
Large plumes of smoke are visible from most areas on the western side of Santa Clarita.
Ventura County Sheriff’s used Reverse 911 calls to issue mandatory evacuations for homes on Guiberson Road between Fillmore and Moorpark.
Evacuations are being recommended for the areas between:
- Balcom Canyon and Stockton Road
- Broadway Canyon and Happy Camp Road
- Happy Camp Road and Highway 126
- Barsdell and Scspi Road
An evacuation shelter has been set up for people without animals at Goebal Senior Center at 1385 Janns Rd, in Thousand Oaks. Evacuations shelters have been set up for large animals at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, and smaller animals can be taken to the Camarillo Animal Shelter.
Due to the fire, the following roads have been closed:
- Grimes Canyon North at Bardsdale
- Broadway at West Grimes
- Walnut Canyon at Broadway and Happy Camp
- Sheckell Road north of Broadway
- Guiberson Road at Grimes Canyon
More than 400 firefighters are fighting the blaze along with eight fixed-wing aircraft and four heavy heli-tankers.
The fire is burning in an area that was burned in the Simi Fire in 2003.
We’ll report more on this throughout the day.
Photos courtesy of Chris Hoefflin