Santa Anas push SoCal fire to almost 2500 acres

Officials issued evacuation orders yesterday after a brushfire took off in southern California’s Ventura County. The South Fire burned over 2400 acres by Saturday evening, according to Ventura County Fire Department.

KCAL News reported that heavy winds were pushing the fire.

Santa Anas December 10 2023
Santa Anas December 10 2023

“Right now it’s light, flashy fuels,” said VCFD Captain Steve Kaufmann.  “Most of it is the regrowth that we’ve had from the Maria Fire (2019) a few years back. It’s still erratic conditions, the firefighters are seeing hot flames and the fire kinda goes anywhere it wants to.”

 

Late last night, evacuation orders were in place for people on the south side foothills of South Mountain; evacuation warnings were issued for the area near S. Mission Rock Road north of Highway 118, south of the Santa Clara River and east of S. Briggs Road; numerous other road closures were in effect. Evacuation orders are posted on the Ventura County Emergency website. A temporary evacuation center was established at Ventura College. Airtankers and helicopters were en route this morning, and by noon over 100 firefighters were on the fire.

 ~ Thanks and a tip of the hardhat to Norman.

Man arrested for shooting at Ventura County Helicopter

Ventura County FireHawk
File photo of Ventura County FireHawk Copter 4 testing new tanks at 69Bravo, June 9, 2021 near Topanga, California . Photo from 69Bravo cameras.

On Thursday morning, July 22, 2021, Joshua Chimarusti was arrested after he fired several rounds from a handgun at a Ventura County Firehawk helicopter in Southern California.

On July 21, 2021 at approximately 9:15 PM, the crew of Ventura County Firehawk Copter 4 was conducting nighttime training operations in Lake Casitas when they became aware of gunfire directed at them.  The pilot of Copter 4 took evasive action and identified a suspect vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed.  Copter 4 followed the suspect vehicle into Oak View where it came to a stop in the 200 block of Olive Street.  The suspect, who was later identified as Joshua Chimarusti, exited the vehicle, and fired additional shots from a handgun at Copter 4.  Mr. Chimarusti ran away to avoid being arrested.

Joshua James Chimarusti
Joshua James Chimarusti. Photo by Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

An extensive search of the area was conducted by by patrol Deputies, various investigative units, K9, UAV, a small SWAT contingent, and Ventura County Copter 3.  Mr. Chimarusti was ultimately located and taken into custody in the early morning hours of July 22, 2021.  The handgun he used during both shootings was also located and seized as evidence.  Ventura County Copter 4 did not sustain any damage from the incident.

Mr. Chimarusti was arrested and booked for attempted murder, assault with a firearm upon a peace officer or fire fighter, shooting at an occupied aircraft, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm.  He had a court appearance scheduled for arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court on July 26.

Ventura County purchased three military HH-60L Blackhawk helicopters and is converting them into FIREHAWKS that will be used for fighting wildland fires, personnel transport, search and rescue, law enforcement, and medical evacuation.

The County has a joint Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit. In addition to the FIREHAWKS, they have one Bell 206 Jet Ranger, one Bell 212 HP, one Bell 205B, and two UH-1A Hueys.

Ventura County Copter 5 returns to SoCal after FireHawk conversion

Ventura County Copter 5
Ventura County Copter 5 returns home to Southern California after being converted to a FireHawk. Photo by Ventura County Stringer May 9, 2021.

From Ventura County Stringer:

“Ventura County Fire (VC Air Unit) Copter 5 (N60VC) arrived at Camarillo Airport late Sunday Morning. Copter 5 started its trip from United Rotorcraft in Colorado early Saturday Morning.

“Copter 5 was formally a Military Blackhawk that has been converted into a Firehawk. The Firehawk is expected to be put into service soon. Additionally, Copter 4, which is another Firehawk that was a military Blackhawk, is anticipated to arrive in the county soon.”