Bushfire breaks out near Lake Piru

A bushfire burning near Lake Piru on Thursday afternoon has reached over 200 hectares and threatened nearby campsites and RV parks, authorities said.

The second fire, called the Felicia Fire, was reported on the west side of the lake off Piru Canyon Road just before 1 p.m. Initial reports said the fire had burned 10 to 15 hectares. Within an hour, the Ventura County Fire Department reported the area had grown to 80 to 100 acres. As of 2:30 p.m., the fire was mapped to 239 acres.

Authorities have issued an evacuation order for the Lake Piru recreation area, including Dominguez Canyon. According to Ventura County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services, Piru Canyon Road north of Piru was closed to the lake.

According to radio traffic, some residents were reportedly seeking shelter in the Dominguez Canyon area.

The lake is east of the town of Fillmore and north of Highway 126.

The fire department reported on social media that more than a hundred firefighters were battling the fire on the ground and from the air using several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Initial estimates suggested the fire could spread to 200 acres, said Tony Huynh, risk and safety manager for the United Water Conservation District, which manages the lake and recreation area. Three helicopters dropped water on the fire, he said.