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Small fire contained in Ventura riverbottom

Star Staff
Originally published 01:22 p.m., October 11, 2008
Updated 03:35 p.m., October 11, 2008

A fire started in the Ventura River bottom at 12:45 this afternoon and is still burning, with smoke visible from as far away as Camarillo.

At 3:30 p.m. Ventura County Fire reported that the fire was contained and had burned between 5 acres and 7 acres.

At one point the fire spread to the center divider near the interchange of highways 101 and 33. CHP closed the northbound lanes on the 33 to allow firefighters to put out the flames, but reopened them about 1:50 p.m. Highway 33 lanes were closed intermittently after that.

The California Highway Patrol reported that smoke was “affecting the freeway,” and traffic was backed up because of closures on Highway 33 .

Discussions

There are 8 comments to this article.

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Comments

Posted by dcsfancy on October 11, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

NB 33 is closed at the 101 traffic is now backing up. Fire is in the center divider of the 33

Posted by pacpam on October 11, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We're getting ashes on Mariposa Dr.

Posted by bigbaldguy on October 11, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is anyone from the Star covering this story? Sure would be good to hear from the homeless as well as the first responders including the cops and the fire dept. Big story here STAR. Please don't duck it.

Posted by kind1 on October 11, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is nothing to state the "Homeless" started the fire. I know personally, that some people party in the river bottom and go home after. Be nice to wait to see what the truth is. I have a 3rd story view of it and called the Star to advise them. Could have even been from a cigerette from a passing car....
<img src="http://kind1sales.com/Graphics/RiverB...
<img src="http://kind1sales.com/Graphics/RiverB...
<img src="http://kind1sales.com/Graphics/RiverB...

Posted by toy.runner on October 11, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

[quote]Posted by bigbaldguy on October 11, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That would require real reporting.
Hope the fire goes away fast and all are safe.

Posted by zulumaster on October 11, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LET IT ALL BURN

Posted by baitsoaker on October 11, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, it wasn't the homeless. I hate it when cigarettes get tossed from all those cars driving down the riverbottom.

Posted by brierrandom on October 11, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was there, across Highway 33 exactly where the fire was. There were embers that blew across the highway and started smoldering in the mulch next to the bike path, right next to the soccer field. Me and some other good samaritans were stomping out the smoking embers. Flames were licking thru a drainage vent in the median between the NB and SB lanes of the 33. The smoke and ash was intense. It was about 30 minutes before firefighters arrived, and even then they couldn't get close enough. The sound of the crackling dry brush erupting into flames was incredible. Flames were at least 30 feet high and visible from the bike path on the other side of the highway. I could see rabbits running for their lives. It must have been started by someone in the hobo jungle; but whether it was a homeless person or just a "day-use" junkie is anyone's guess. But it was for sure too far into the jungle to be started by a motorist's cigarette or anything like that.

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