VCFD: Fillmore’s thermal anomaly
sparks surface fire that burns two acres
August 19, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Fillmore’s thermal anomaly north of the city was burning again when it caused a grass fire last week, a blaze that was quickly brought under control.
The August 13 grass fire was reported at the well-known underground fire pit in the Dough Flats area north of Fillmore, just outside the Los Padres National Forest.
The afternoon blaze burned more than two acres before Ventura County Fire and support crews from other agencies were able to cut fire lines around it.
Engine companies, bulldozers, hand crews, helicopters and other personnel and equipment from several different agencies responded to the August 13 fire. It was contained in about an hour.
According to the VCFD, due to the crude oil and gas fumes coming from the ground a hazardous materials crew handled the mop up.
The area of the mysterious underground fire—which could be as deep as 100 feet—has recorded high heat at least six times since the mid-1980s.
The area is on land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and leased by an oil company; the surrounding area is one of California’s longest producing oil fields.
The “thermal anomaly” which in past years sent smoke into the air from its underground burn surface is a geologic feature scientists’ believe is probably caused by an “oil seam” that can be ignited by ground movement or surface fires.
The hotspot—over the years temperatures in excess of 800 degrees have been recorded—is about three miles north of Fillmore.
Such “thermal anomalies” are not unknown: A notable underground fire has been burning below the surface of Centralia, Pennsylvania since 1961. The still active fire, which is burning along veins of coal near a defunct mine, forced the majority of Centralia residents to permanently abandon their homes and businesses.
