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California Fires: Schwarzenegger Declares A State Of Emergency

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 23, 2009 at 12:53 pm

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Fires in Ventura County, California, that started yesterday have now escalated, prompting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency in the County today. Stronger winds are expected today after a relative quiet last night. Moreover, low humidity and high temperatures are adding to the problem. The fire is only 10% contained, and more evacuations are in order. Six hundred firefighters are battling the fire. No word on any damages or casualties yet. Fire officials suspect the fire was not an arson, but rather a spontaneous combustion.

The Guiberson fire, as it is called, is expected to grow to 10,000 acres, threatening a lot of infrastructure, including oil fields. This fire is very close to Moorpark College, where classes have been canceled today.

"It's dangerous because it moves so quickly you can really get caught off guard," said Ventura County Fire Capt. Ron Oatman. "Some of [the flames] are knee-high or less and you think you can walk out there, but it can just move so quick it can really outrun somebody, especially with that wind."

The state of emergency has also been declared in Los Angeles and Monterey counties.

If you are eye-witnessing these fires, please contribute your thoughts and/or visuals to this story.

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Paschen

at 16:20 on September 23rd, 2009

California needs to implement water conservation and reforestation as well depopulating areas that are best suited for plants life such as San Francisco.

JustNeighbors (not verified)

at 17:46 on September 23rd, 2009

Unfortunately the Guiberson fire like most was burning for quite some time before help by air arrived. It is difficult to blame anyone. When Santa Anna winds come up we can count on an uprising of fires. Guard your own homes. Be safe.

ChrisMichaelStudio

at 05:31 on September 24th, 2009

I went to Moorpark College Wednesday evening and found the fire was about 40% contained with 6000 acres burned and fire crews were set up at different locations in the neighborhood on guard for any problems that might arise from the very un-predicable “Santa-Ana” winds that plague <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />California every year. I talked to some neighbors who said Tuesday night was very scary. The winds were really blowing and the fire came down the hillside within ¼ mile of the community. They were told at about 2:30 in the morning to get ready and evacuate!! The aerial assault really took hold Wednesday with everything at the disposal of the Ventura Fire Dept and the U.S. Forrest Service including the DC-10 fire tanker. In all Wednesday afternoon the winds actually turned against themselves and then died down allowing the 1000 plus hand crews to surround the east end. This morning will be a complete air campaign to knock the fire out. Today if all goes well the Moorpark end of the fire will be under control and they will get the Santa Paula side next. I wanted to take pictures of the fire tankers but they were working behind the hillside out of sight of public viewing. This terrain and composition of Moorpark is really different then the Sation Fire that is still burning in that it is mostly dry grassy fields not 50-60 years of dead wood 5-8 ft high.