Camarillo Springs Fire
May 2nd, 2013 to May 3rd, 2013
A fire broke out on the Conejo Grade alongside the 101 freeway near Camarillo. It was very warm, near 90 in areas, with offshore winds. The fire quickly spread
into the foothills of Camarillo, Newbury Park, and eventually all the way south to the ocean burning over 28,000 acres. I went to work early that morning and
drove over the grade before 6am. The fire started there at about 6:45am. Later in the morning I had to drive back over the grade to go to a work related party
over in Thousand Oaks. Traffic on the freeway was very slow all the way over the grade and lots of fire crews were present. I wasn't able to get any pictures
at the time but there were still pockets of fire burning alongside the freeway. I stopped by the house before going to the party and I could see flames and smoke
burning very close-by. After the party I was able to come home and start taking pictures. A late season storm came through on May 6th and helped cleanse the sky
from smoke and ash. (The time stamp on my pictures was wrong so I had to guess when I took these photos.
05-02-2013; 3pm?
This picture is of a small tongue of the fire that spread into the hills only a mile from my house.
05-02-2013; 3pm?
05-02-2013; 3pm?
05-02-2013; 3pm?
05-02-2013; 3pm?
05-02-2013; 3pm?
05-02-2013; 3pm?
Every now and then I could spot the flames on the hills there. The fire came right up against the backyards of the homes there and
even crossed Borchard Road.
05-02-2013; 3pm?
05-02-2013; 4pm?
Every now and then a large plume of smoke would rise from this area of the fire. Then it would settle down...only to rise again.
05-02-2013; 4pm?
05-02-2013; 4pm?
05-02-2013; 4pm?
05-02-2013; 5pm?
05-02-2013; 5pm?
Later in the evening firefighters managed to get control of this small portion of the fire and the smoke gradually decreased.
05-03-2013; 1pm?
Smoke spreading over the sky during my lunch break in Camarillo. Tiny bits of ash was falling from the sky making the hot temperatures
that much worse.
05-03-2013; 5pm?
Smoke clouds as seen from work before I headed home.
05-03-2013; 5pm?
This shot is from the Camarillo side of the grade on my way home. The smoke towers into the sky like a thundercloud. The worst of the
fire was on the south end of Newbury Park at this time where homes were being evacuated.
05-03-2013; 5pm?
It's hard to make it out, but these next few shots are of the now barren hillsides. Everything is black from the freeway southward (right).
05-03-2013; 5pm?
05-03-2013; 5pm?
05-03-2013; 5pm?
05-03-2013; 5pm?
The tower of smoke from the Newbury Park side of the grade.
05-03-2013; 5pm?
05-03-2013; 5pm?
Smoke spreading over my house. It would stick around for a few days yet.
05-03-2013; 5pm?
05-03-2013; 6pm?
A collection of ash on the ground in the backyard.
This isn't a photo but it's something I found online that shows the extent of this fire.
2007 Firestorm
October 21st, 2007
A ton of fires broke out all around in October 2007. This was as thick as I've seen smoke in this area as there were fires burning in just about every direction.
Along with the fires came a decent amount of wind. Everything was dark orange for a few days. Eventually the winds changed directions and the thick smoke cleared out.
Traces of smoke remained in the sky for quite awhile.
Wikipedia: October 2007 California Wildfires
10-21-2007; 3:31pm
The view out back in Newbury Park.
10-21-2007; 3:31pm
10-21-2007; 3:31pm
10-21-2007; 3:32pm
Wind, leaves, ash and who knows what else all combined to turn the pool into...that.
10-21-2007; 3:32pm
10-21-2007; 3:32pm
The smoke was thick enough to obscure the sun.
10-21-2007; 3:34pm
10-21-2007; 3:35pm
The view from the front yard.
10-21-2007; 3:35pm
10-21-2007; 3:35pm
10-21-2007; 3:35pm
A thick smoke settled in like a fog making the nearby hills barely visible. It seeped in windows and made it hard to breath.
10-21-2007; 3:35pm
10-21-2007; 3:36pm
10-21-2007; 3:42pm
10-21-2007; 4:38pm
10-21-2007; 4:38pm
Chatsworth Fire
September 28th, 2005 to September 29th, 2005
A large fire (I forget how many thousands of acres) broke out near Chatsworth in LA county. It eventually spread into Ventura county and burned land from Chatsworth
through the hills south of Simi Valley and all the way over near the 23 Freeway in Thousand Oaks.
09-28-2005; 2:18pm
These next 5 pictures show small spot fires smoldering on and around the Moorpark College campus. Despite this, nobody seemed to be
very concerned and classes went on as scheduled.
09-28-2005; 2:20pm
09-28-2005; 2:20pm
09-28-2005; 2:26pm
09-28-2005; 2:27pm
09-28-2005; 3:45pm
Later in the afternoon the main fire was clearly visible from the campus.
09-28-2005; 3:46pm
09-28-2005; 3:51pm
09-28-2005; 3:51pm
09-28-2005; 3:54pm
09-28-2005; 3:57pm
Smoke seen from the 23 freeway.
09-28-2005; 3:58pm
09-28-2005; 3:58pm
09-28-2005; 3:59pm
09-28-2005; 4:00pm
09-28-2005; 4:00pm
The fire from the Tierra Rejada offramp on my way home.
09-28-2005; 4:01pm
09-28-2005; 4:02pm
09-28-2005; 4:17pm
Smoke from the fire was even spreading over my home in Camarillo.
09-28-2005; 4:17pm
09-28-2005; 4:20pm
09-28-2005; 5:19pm
09-28-2005; 5:19pm
09-29-2005; 9:35am
Back on the 23 the next morning as the fire inches closer.
09-29-2005; 9:45am
09-29-2005; 9:53am
Before class shot from Moorpark College.
09-29-2005; 11:30am
After class shot.
09-29-2005; 11:30am
09-29-2005; 11:30am
09-29-2005; 11:36am
The fire gets closer to the 23 freeway as smoke hangs thick in the air.
09-29-2005; 11:36am
09-29-2005; 11:36am
09-29-2005; 11:37am
09-29-2005; 11:38am
09-29-2005; 11:38am
09-29-2005; 11:39am
09-29-2005; 11:40am
09-29-2005; 11:51am
Back home the smoke has darkened the sky.
09-29-2005; 11:52am
