This surprised Linda Fefferman, who had to flee in disaster with her husband. The car had barely been loaded, “we learned that a tree had fallen (on the road) and was blocking our exit,” she told local channel KTLA. “It was scary, because we thought we were trapped. » One of his neighbors finally managed to clear the obstacle with a chainsaw. The couple managed to escape but lost two pets and their house was charred.
“It’s a total loss,” sighed Linda Fefferman, her voice trembling. Her husband returned to the site to assess the extent of the damage, but she is currently refusing to leave the emergency accommodation center where they are sheltering. “Emotionally, I’m not ready,” she said. “I take things day by day. »
The fire destroyed at least 132 homes and 8,300 hectares of vegetation in California.
PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP
“It went very quickly”
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the region to help fight the fire. According to the White House, US President Joe Biden called Gavin Newsom on Friday to discuss the “support needed” by those affected and the release of federal financial aid.
The fire has consumed more than 8,300 hectares, according to the latest bulletin from the CalFire agency. A first estimate of the damage by the authorities shows 132 houses completely destroyed and around 88 badly damaged by the flames.
PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP
A pink line of fire retardant covers the top of a burned hillside following the Mountain Fire wildfire in Moorpark, California.
Robin Wallace was one of those who lost their home. Her home, in which she was raised by her parents, was destroyed after she fled. “We thought we could go back and get some things.” But of course it didn’t work,” she said. “Everything disappeared in the afternoon. It happened very quickly. »
“A very successful day”
Friday evening, firefighters reported progress against the flames, the wind having calmed. “Today was a very successful day for us” regarding the fire, Nick Cleary of the Ventura County Fire Department told reporters, adding that 14% of the fire is now under control.
The lull in winds is expected to last several days, according to weather services. But the region is not out of the woods yet. “Fire remains a threat to critical infrastructure,” CalFire warned. It “burns on steep, rugged terrain, with dry fuels.”
PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP
Robin Wallace still managed to save two fish from the pond at the family home on West Highland Drive which was destroyed in the fire.
Power companies cut power to thousands of customers in the area, a common practice in California during high winds, with toppled power lines often sparking fires.
