Post Fire Friday update: Containment hits 61% as temperatures move into triple digits

Staff reports
·2 min read

Fire crews reached 61% containment on the Post Fire as of Friday morning, just as the heat was expected to ramp up in the region.

At 15,690 acres, the blaze still burning in northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties slowed its march through a rural, rugged region in recent days. In Ventura County, the fire scorched areas mostly within Los Padres National Forest.

"Although stronger winds and dry conditions occurred last night, minimal fire activity was observed," fire officials said Friday morning.

The Post Fire erupted June 15 near Gorman off Interstate 5 and quickly grew to thousands of acres.

The blaze destroyed two structures and threatened another 60 since Saturday. One person was injured, fire officials said. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

A plume of smoke rises above terrain charred by the Post Fire on Friday. The brush fire that burned through 15,690 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties was 61% contained, authorities said.
A plume of smoke rises above terrain charred by the Post Fire on Friday. The brush fire that burned through 15,690 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties was 61% contained, authorities said.

Post Fire evacuations

Because of the improved conditions on the fire, officials had lifted or reduced some evacuation orders, but Pyramid Lake remained closed to the public Friday.

Still, 1,542 personnel were assigned to the fire, according to information from the unified command headed up by Los Angeles County and U.S. Forest Service fire departments.

"Firefighters will continue to focus on protecting infrastructure and recreation areas," fire officials said in their latest report Friday morning. "While several pockets of unburned fuel remain within interior portions of the burned area, the priority remains constructing and reinforcing containment lines around the fire."

'Dangerously hot conditions' forecasted for mountains, Antelope Valley

The National Weather Service said it expected "dangerously hot conditions" for the weekend, especially for the mountains and Antelope Valley.

Fire officials noted the worst conditions were pegged for Saturday and Sunday with daytime temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees, humidity levels in the teens and single digits and winds up to 35 mph.

"With higher temperatures this weekend, more smoke may be visible," officials said.

A slight chance of rain showers or thunderstorms is a possibility Saturday through Tuesday, according to the weather service. It could rain over the burn area.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Post Fire Friday update: Containment, evacuations, forecasts