A wildfire in Ventura County, fanned by high winds, destroyed 132 structures while devastating neighborhoods in Moorpark, and Camarillo moved into remote and rugged terrain in Ventura County on Friday.

The Mountain Fire was estimated at about 20,500 hectares on Friday morning, with 7 percent containment after it started in the Somis area around 9 a.m. Wednesday. The fire grew at an astonishing rate under heavy red flag conditions, sending flames into neighborhoods.

The fire grew to approximately 15,000 hectares within 24 hours.

Ventura County fire officials said Thursday evening that inspections of the fire area found 132 buildings were destroyed and 88 others damaged. They were believed to be residential, but the exact number was unclear.

About 10,800 customers in Ventura County were without power Thursday evening. Southern California Edison has set up community centers at the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center in Moorpark, Simi Valley Senior Center at 3900 Avenida Simi and the Ventura Beach Marriott, according to county officials. at 2055 Harbor Blvd.

Sheriff’s officials said a total of 10 injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, all of which are considered minor, with most related to smoke inhalation.

The Ventura County Mountain Fire continues to burn more than 20,000 acres in Ventura County. John Cádiz Klemack reports for NBC4 News at 6:00 a.m. Nov. 8, 2024.

The wind subsided Thursday afternoon, which was a positive sign for firefighters.

“The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain, with dry and receptive fuels, which has challenged containment efforts,” Cal Fire said in a Friday morning update. “The fire activity decreased due to the decrease in wind above the fire. The fire continued to spread in areas where it was not established in control lines. The fire remains a threat to critical infrastructure. Islands with unburned fuel will continue to burn within the boundaries. footprint of fire.”

The fire started at Highway 118, near the 7900 block of Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road. Flames jumped the 118 Freeway into the Camarillo Heights area on Wednesday.

Evacuation orders were expanded Thursday and remained in effect Friday morning. There were road closures and several areas were without power.

Strong winds early on grounded fixed-wing aircraft due to “very dangerous” conditions caused by gusty winds. The wind can cause turbulence for pilots. Thick smoke also made it difficult to see from the air. Water-dropping helicopters still made flights on the fire, some dropping water directly on houses.

The Mountain Fire raged in a region that has seen some of California’s most destructive fires over the years. Chief Jeff Shea of ​​the Ventura Fire County Department noted the red flag weather conditions in the region and how they will contribute to the flames through Thursday.

“What that means is critically low relative humidity,” he said. “The amount of moisture in the air is less than 10%, which is critical for us and for fire behavior and persistent Santa Ana winds.”

California’s statewide wildfire update shows a staggering increase in acres burned compared to last year. On Monday, Cal Fire reported that more than 1 million acres have burned since the start of the year. Last year, only 308,000 hectares had burned at this point.

The five-year average is 1.2 million hectares through November 4.