Maria fire: Evacuation orders, shelters, school and road closures

Firefighters monitor a back burn as they work to control the Maria fire in Santa Paula.

Nov. 1, 2019 1:38 PM PT

The Maria fire broke out atop South Mountain, just south of Santa Paula, about 6:14 p.m. Thursday and quickly burned toward the small agricultural towns of Somis and Saticoy in Ventura County. By Friday afternoon, the fire had changed direction, burning toward neighborhoods in Santa Paula.

The fire has charred 9,412 acres and is 0% contained. Video of the fire’s ignition was captured by a camera from the ALERT Wildfire program.

Evacuations

Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for the area south of Mountain Road, east of West Los Angeles Avenue, west of Balcom Canyon Road and north of the 118 Freeway. In Santa Paula, mandatory evacuation orders are in place south of the 126 Freeway, east of Campanula Avenue, west of South Briggs Road and north of Santa Clara River.

Roughly 2,300 structures are threatened, and 8,000 people are under evacuation orders.

Shelters

Camarillo Community Center (open at 9 p.m.), 1605 Burnley St.
Camarillo Animal Shelter (small animals), 600 Aviation Dr.
Ventura County Fairgrounds (large animals), 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura
Earl Warren Showgrounds (large animals), 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara

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Road closures

South Mountain Road is closed between 12th Street and Balcom Canyon Road.
Berylwood Road is closed at Aggen Road.
West La Loma Road is closed between Center Road and Walnut Avenue.
Price Road is closed at E. Los Angeles Avenue (Highway 118).
Clubhouse Drive is closed at E. Los Angeles Avenue (Highway 118).
La Vista Avenue is closed at W. Los Angeles Avenue (Highway 118).

School closures

Mesa Union School District
Mupu Elementary School District
Oxnard Union High School District
Santa Paula Unified School District
Briggs School District
Hueneme Elementary School District
Santa Clara Elementary School District
ACE (Camarillo)
University Preparation (Camarillo)

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Alex Wigglesworth

Alex Wigglesworth is a reporter who covers the Inland Empire, Mojave Desert communities and the environment for the Los Angeles Times.

Hannah Fry

Hannah Fry covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She most recently covered Orange County for The Times and has written extensively about criminal trials, housing, politics and government. In 2020, Fry was part of the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fry came to The Times from the Daily Pilot, where she covered coastal cities, education and crime. An Orange County native, Fry started her career as an intern at the Orange County Register.