TALK ABOUT A CLOSE CALL : BRUSH FIRE CONTAINED AFTER CREEPING NEAR HOMES IN SIMI VALLEY.Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer A brush fire in southwest Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. rattled some homeowners Friday when flames approached their houses, but the blaze was quickly contained without damage or injuries. The fire, which started about 12:50 p.m. south of Azure azure /az·ure/ (azh´er) one of three metachromatic basic dyes (A, B, and C). az·ure n. Any of various dyes used in biological stains, especially for blood and nuclear staining. Hills Drive near Coldbrook Place, came within 100 feet of some homes and charred about 20 acres of brush, the Ventura County Fire Department Not to be confused with Ventura Fire Department. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for six other cities within the county. reported. ``We got a quick jump on it and that kept it small,'' said Battalion Chief Stan Raap. ``The fire came close to some homes, but most of the houses in this area are fire resistant.'' Raap said that most homes in the area have roof tiles, not shingles shingles: see herpes zoster. shingles or herpes zoster Acute viral skin and nerve infection. Groups of small blisters appear along certain nerve segments, most often on the back, sometimes after a dull ache at the site; pain becomes , and homeowners have cleared fire fuel, such as brush and weeds, from the areas nearest their houses. The hilly hill·y adj. hill·i·er, hill·i·est 1. Having many hills. 2. Similar to a hill; steep. hill terrain made the fire a challenge for about 65 firefighters. They were helped by two water-dropping helicopters from the county Sheriff's Department, he said.Homeowners watched anxiously until the fire was contained at about 2:35 p.m. Leanne Seeley, who lives in the 520 block of Azure Hills Drive, said the fire charred about half of her family's back yard, which extends into the hills. Seeley said she was braced for the worst and then grateful no damage was done. ``I was on the phone when I thought I smelled a real good barbecue and, lo and behold be·hold v. be·held , be·hold·ing, be·holds v.tr. 1. a. To perceive by the visual faculty; see: beheld a tiny figure in the distance. b. , I walked out in the back yard to see what happened, and I saw that my house was in jeopardy,'' she said. Seeley telephoned 911 and evacuated e·vac·u·ate v. e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing, e·vac·u·ates v.tr. 1. a. To empty or remove the contents of. b. To create a vacuum in. 2. a horse and a dog from the family's barn. ``I'm thanking God, but I'm a little shook up,'' she said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, fire officials said. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--Color) A water-dropping helicopter tries to k eep fire away from homes on Quiet Court in Simi Valley on Friday. Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News (2--Color) Homeowners work to fend off a brush fire. Dusty Locke/Special to the Daily News (3--Color) Residents battle fire with shovels and a hose. Jeremy Greene/Special the Daily News |
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