Governor Views Mountain Fire Devastation, More Than 20,000 Acres Burned, Scores Of Homes Destroyed

This article was originally published by KVTA.

Update–Governor Newsom toured the devastation of the “Mountain Fire” Thursday as he proclaimed a State of Emergency for Ventura County that will mean state and federal funds and other resources to help deal with the disaster.

The Governor’s visit came on a day when initial survey results revealed at least 132 homes and other structures were destroyed and 88 were damaged.

The survey has just started and those numbers are expected to grow.

Thousands of people have been displaced by the fire with no estimate as to when they will be allowed back, assuming they will have something to come back to.

Meanwhile, there was a flare up Thursday on the eastern edge of the fire near where it started on Wednesday morning.

The total number of acres burned so far is more than 20,000 with just 5% containment.

But the situation is starting to improve as the weather turns more favorable for firefighters and Thursday the wind conditions finally allowed for the large fixed wing air tankers to do their work dropping massive amounts of fire retardant.

Several schools remain closed until at least next week and a host of road closures are also still in effect.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Efforts are underway by several organizations to help the victims of the fire including the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura Chamber.