Country Fire 50% Contained, Evacuations Lifted In Thousand Oaks

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA — Evacuations orders are lifted in Westlake Village as fire crews report 50% containment of the Country Fire, which burned 28 acres near Westlake High School Thursday afternoon.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries, and is being evaluated at a nearby hospital, VCFD reported. No other injuries or structure damage have been reported as of 7 p.m. Thursday.

A brush fire was first reported at around 3:22 p.m. Thursday near the 500 block of 500 Country Valley Road, near the intersection of Via Colinas in Thousand Oaks, according to the VCFD. It arrived right as Ventura and Los Angeles County crews had finished containing a five-acre brush fire in nearby Calabasas.

The "Country Fire" was initially reported as one acre and moving at a moderate rate of speed.
Crews reported smoke emerging from the blaze in an area that was difficult to access, according to a report in the Ventura County Star. Helicopters and several tankers from LA County were requested in response.

By 5 p.m. the blaze had spread to 10 acres, and was moving towards homes at the intersection of Via Colinas and Country Valley Road. Via Colinas and Country Valley Road were placed under mandatory evacuation. Thousand Oaks Boulevard was shut down from Lakeview Canyon Road and Via Merida were closed down, and access was cut off from Lakeview Boulevard and Via Merida.

60 firefighting resources, including Los Angeles County Fire Department crews, were used to combat the fire from the ground and the air. VCFD said that it alerted 1191 contacts using its VCAlert system.

#CountryFire; FFs are making good progress on this approx 28 acre fire. The map below shows the polygon that was created to alert the contacts about the incident. @VCFD @toaksvcso @CountyVentura @VENTURASHERIFF #VCFD pic.twitter.com/DeMdFzsxPm
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) April 30, 2021

At around 6 p.m., VCFD reported 'good progress' containing the fire. Shortly after, it announced that Via Merida had reopened to residents only and County Valley Road would soon reopen to residents.

By 7 p.m., all evacuation orders were lifted, and VCFD said it was in the process of "repopulating" the area.

#CountryFire; FFs are making good progress on this approx 28 acre fire. The map below shows the polygon that was created to alert the contacts about the incident. @VCFD @toaksvcso @CountyVentura @VENTURASHERIFF #VCFD pic.twitter.com/DeMdFzsxPm
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) April 30, 2021

The cause of both of the 101 Corridor's fires remain under investigation, but it is likely that high temperatures in the upper 80s - up to 100 degrees in Woodland Hills - and wind gusts of up to 20 mph on hillsides have increased fire weather, however a Red Flag Warning has not yet been issued. Temperatures are expected to hit the 90s on Friday.

— Refresh for updates.

Related coverage:

Virgenes Fire Contained In Calabasas | Agoura Hills, CA Patch

Evacuations Lifted As Castaic's North Fire Is 25% Contained | Los Angeles, CA Patch