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Residents returning to the foothills above Camarillo were met with heartbreaking scenes as the Mountain fire left a trail of devastation in its wake. Fleeing the flames just days ago, they have now found more than 130 structures reduced to rubble, with most being residential homes.

The fire, which has consumed over 20,500 acres, affected areas of Camarillo and Moorpark the hardest. The inferno charged through neighborhoods with ferocity, primarily on Wednesday, driven by powerful wind gusts that hindered firefighting efforts. These erratic winds, at times exceeding 60 mph, sparked spot fires further complicating the situation. Conditions were so dire that aircraft designed to drop fire retardant could not operate for hours.

Ventura County was battered by some of the strongest Santa Ana winds seen in years, with sustained gusts between 25 to 40 mph early in the week. These winds began to ease on Friday, reducing to about 15 to 25 mph and providing some respite to firefighters. By Thursday, officials reported that 132 homes had been lost and another 88 damaged, marking this fire as one of the most destructive in recent history.

Efforts to control the blaze saw improvements by Friday as the winds calmed, allowing aircraft to return to the skies and support ground crews. However, with only 7% of the fire contained, over 11,700 structures remain under threat. Despite the expiration of red flag warnings on Friday morning, the National Weather Service warned that gusty northeast winds, although diminished, would persist through Saturday morning.

In neighborhoods like Camarillo Heights, residents are grappling with the overwhelming loss. Brittanie Bibby and her family, who had recently moved into her inherited home, found nothing but ashes where their house once stood. Among the lost items were irreplaceable family memories, vital documents, and even their baby’s inhaler.

Breanna Hale, who rushed to save precious items from her family home, was stopped by firefighters as she attempted to navigate road closures. Her childhood home, filled with memories and sentimental items, was consumed by the flames. Yet, she clings to the solace of having salvaged one photograph of her birth parents.

Efforts to combat the fire received a boost on Thursday after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Ventura County, aiming to mobilize additional resources. As firefighters continue their aggressive suppression tactics, communities are beginning the painful process of assessing their losses and attempting to rebuild their lives from the ashes.