California

Wendy Fire Breaks Out in Ventura County Amid High Temperatures

The Wendy Fire was one of several wildfires burning in Southern California.

Multiple brush fires burned in parts of Ventura County Friday morning as strong winds and high temperatures slammed Southern California.

On Thursday night, the Wendy Fire grew to about 91 acres, burning south of the intersection of Wendy Drive and Potrero Road in Newbury Park, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Containment was at 50% as of Friday morning. 

No structures were reported damaged. 

SoCal Edison has shut off power to parts of the county as a precaution. The proactive shutoffs were planned to prevent power lines from sparking fires. 

Firefighters responded to reports of a brush fire on the side of a hill in Newbury Park around 6:55 p.m. Thursday. 

Portero Road was closed at Wendy Drive as the fire moved southward into open space, away from homes, officials said at 8:30 p.m.

Around 10 p.m., VCFD said in a tweet that forward progess was slowed "thanks to an aggressive coordinated attack." They also said crews and helicopters would be working throughout the night to extinguish remaining hotspots. 

The Ventura County Fire Department had a busy day and night. Another fire dubbed the Olivas Fire burned 200 acres and was 50% contained as of Friday afternoon. The Middle Fire burned approximately .3 acres and was fully extinguished. The larger Saddleridge Fire in Los Angeles County, which has burned thousands of acres, was not impacting Ventura County. 

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