Firefighters worked through sizzling heat Friday as they battled a stubborn blaze that grew to 150 acres as it burned through tinder-dry brush and threatened homes in the hills of Simi Valley.
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The department said it was receiving help from several other agencies, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Ventura County fire Capt. Scott Dettorre says crews have gotten a handle on the blaze, which was initially estimated at 15 acres but is likely smaller.
“The good news is, the wind is not pushing this fire”, Dettorre said.
The fire was first reported around 3:30 p.m. near the Wood Ranch neighborhood and is threatening as many as 500 homes in the area, authorities said.
The fire erupted before dawn Friday after a vehicle reportedly went off the freeway and down an embankment. The Simi Valley fire was ignited when a pickup truck plunged 200 feet into a ravine.
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The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
