Fire Crews Contain 3,300-Acre Blaze

Firefighters contained a major brush fire Sunday that scorched more than 3,300 acres in the hills between Somis and Santa Paula.

The fire, which broke out about 2 a.m. Saturday in the area of Bradley Road and Coyote Canyon, consumed 3,332 acres, said Joe Luna, a Ventura County Fire Department spokesman. It was fully contained by noon Sunday.

A number of factors may have contributed to starting the fire, including winds of up to 50 mph combined with a possible spark from heavy equipment in the largely rural area, Luna said. But authorities have not ruled out arson.

Homes along La Loma Avenue near the Saticoy Country Club were briefly threatened by the blaze.

A unidentified Ventura County firefighter who succumbed to heat exhaustion was taken to Ventura County Medical Center. A Los Angeles County firefighter, also not identified, sustained minor cuts Saturday. He was treated at the scene and released.

Three cattle died in the fire, and a barn, three horse trailers and a truck were destroyed. A number of trees from an avocado orchard were also burned. The Ventura County Farm Bureau is still assessing the damage.

About 80 firefighters from the Ventura County Fire Department, the California Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service remained at the scene Sunday night to mop up any hot spots and to patrol the area.

The fire is expected to be completely extinguished by early this evening, Luna said.