Out-of-control wildfire is threatening dozens of homes north of Los Angeles, California

Wildfire

A wildfire in Southern California that is threatening dozens of homes has led to evacuations, burned more than 1,000 acres of land and forced the closure of parts of two major highways on Saturday.

The out-of-control brush fire forced the evacuation of dozens of homes northwest of Los Angeles and closed a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway after starting outside the city of Ventura late Friday.

Highway 101 – which runs north to south – was closed in both directions for roughly 15 miles from state Highway 150 to state Highway 33, forcing holiday travelers to take narrow, backcountry roads.

The wind-whipped brush fire spread to 1,200 acres after winds reached 50 mph in the dry area.

It grew rapidly due to the wind and dry conditions after starting around 10.30pm on Friday.

Venture County Fire Department Captain Steve Kaufman said the fire was ‘bumping up against the roadway’ and was ‘getting a bunch of embers in Solimar east’ in a video posted to Facebook.

About 60 homes were ordered evacuated in the coastal Solimar Beach community and another 30 were under voluntary evacuation.

Source: Daily Mail