Santa Paula Engineer Tim Harris is shown at the pump panel of Engine 182 at the brush reported late Monday in the Santa Clara River bottom near the 12th Street Bridge. Firefighters from various agencies responded to the fire that was located near a homeless encampment and was quickly contained. Courtesy Photo by Sebastian Ramirez

Santa Paula Fire Department, other
agencies knock down river bottom fire

May 29, 2015
Santa Paula News

Santa Paula Fire and other agencies had to respond late Monday evening to fight a brush fire in the Santa Clara River bottom near the 12th Street Bridge, according to a SPFD spokesman.

The fire was reported at 11:47 p.m. Monday and was declared contained at about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday.

According to Santa Paula Fire Chief Rick Araiza the brush fire was “near homeless camps…there was no one around when the crews got there,” in response to the fire.

The blaze was initially described as “well-involved” and was burning an area approximately 50 feet by 50 feet on the south side of Highway 126 near the 1200 block of Santa Clara Street.

Due to the fire’s location deep into the growth of the river bottom the fire was upgraded to a second alarm.

SPFD PIO Andy VanSciver said the initial call to report the fire was followed “A moment later,” by a report of a Santa Paula Police Officer who he said came upon the scene of a “large fire” east of the bridge.

Santa Paula Fire Engine 81 was first at the scene followed by SPFD Engine 182.

When Engine 81 Captain Jerry Byrum upgraded the fire response to a “full brush response,” VanSciver said additional fire engines, battalion chiefs, water tender, a dozer and a hand crew were dispatched.

“The fire,” he noted, “was contained to the river bottom area to less than one acre,” on unincorporated property with mutual aid from Ventura County Fire, Ventura City Fire and the county fire hand crew who with SPFD spent hours at the scene.

No one was injured during the incident.





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