What caused the Mountain Fire in Ventura County?

The Mountain Fire was caused by leftover hot tire debris from the earlier Balcom Fire, which was dislodged by extreme winds.

How is the Ventura County Fire Department responding to the Mountain Fire?

The department is adopting a new post-fire reconnaissance program using drones and technology, exploring improved mop-up policies, and undergoing an independent investigation of the Balcom Fire.

How are residents affected by the Mountain Fire rebuilding their homes?

Residents whose homes were destroyed in the Mountain Fire are still working to rebuild, with 51 building permits issued in the past year, 24 of which have been completed.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Ventura County Wildfire Sparked by Leftover Debris from Previous Blaze

Ventura County Wildfire Sparked by Leftover Debris from Previous Blaze

8 Nov

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Summary

Massive Mountain Fire in 2024 destroyed 180 homes
Caused by dislodged hot tire debris from earlier Balcom Fire
Ventura County fire department implementing new post-fire procedures

Ventura County Wildfire Sparked by Leftover Debris from Previous Blaze

In November 2024, a massive wildfire known as the Mountain Fire ravaged over 20,000 acres in Ventura County, California, destroying 180 homes. According to fire officials, the blaze was sparked by leftover debris from a previous, much smaller fire that had occurred just a week earlier.

The earlier fire, called the Balcom Fire, had started on October 30, 2024, when a tractor's engine caught fire while clearing brush in a Balcom Canyon field. That vegetation fire had reached 1.8 acres and was closed the following day by arson investigators.

However, in the days that followed, weather conditions in the region drastically changed, with a severe, rare weather advisory known as a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning being issued. On November 6, 2024, the Mountain Fire ignited, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity. It quickly spread to 1,000 acres within the first hour, causing thousands of evacuations.