The Mountain Fire ignited in Ventura County, California on November 6, 2024, under extremely critical fire weather conditions as defined by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.
The fire is comprised of several active perimeters totaling 14,187 acres as of 4 a.m. PST on November 7, 2024. To this point, the most impactful perimeter of the Mountain Fire is the southern most perimeter affecting the community of Camarillo, California.
Initial media reports indicate that numerous structures have been affected by the fire, although it is too early for any counts of structures damaged or destroyed. A statement from the California Governor’s office on November 6 indicated that more than 10,000 people have been evacuated due to the fire and that approximately 3,500 structures are under threat.
The National Weather Service has issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in Southern California. The Los Angeles area has not seen the threat level this high since 2020.
This level of warning carries with it the concern of extreme and life threatening fire behavior, driven by wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph in the mountainous areas. In response, Southern California Edison began shutting off power to customers in areas where its equipment was considered at high risk of sparking a wildfire. Fire-prone communities in the foothills should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice, until the winds are expected to die down this evening.
Guy Carpenter will continue to monitor the Mountain Fire and the critical fire weather conditions expected in California on November 7 and will provide updates as necessary.
