Fighting fire without use of planes The Ventura County Fire Department said 140 firefighters are at the scene, but because of the powerful offshore winds − the strongest such event the state has experienced in years − planes that drop fire retardant can't be used.

A brush fire that erupted near Balcom Canyon and Bradley roads Wednesday morning has burned at least 1,500 acres and prompted evacuations and a large-scale response. Dangerous Santa Ana winds are fanning the blaze,