A brush fire that broke out in the Simi Valley hills near Los Angeles Avenue and Stearns Avenue just before 3:50 p.m. Thursday was kept to an estimated 50 acres by about 6:20 p.m., according the Ventura County Fire Department.
More than 150 firefighters, two water-dropping helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft battled the blaze, dubbed the Hidden Fire, at its peak. By about 5:30 p.m., the fire department determined firefighters had enough of an upper hand on the fire and cancelled two of the four air tankers. One helicopter was released by about 7 p.m.
Metrolink service was interrupted for a short while, but was back in service by 7:30 p.m.
A final evening update by VCFD reported "The forward progress of the fire burning on the east end of Simi Valley has been stopped and the fire's size is now estimated at 50 acres. Firefighters will remain on scene overnight to monitor for hot spots, and be back on the hillside in the morning to complete mop up operations."
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