Thousands of firefighters continued to contain a massive wildfire that claimed 174 homes in Ventura County as weather forecasters warned residents to prepare for winds to pick up speed starting Monday.
The Mountain Fire, which started at about 9:45 a.m. Nov. 6, had scorched more than 32 square miles around Camarillo Heights—about 55 miles north of Los Angeles—by Monday afternoon.
Fire crews have contained about 36 percent of the fire’s perimeter by Monday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The fire grew quickly last week, fueled by extreme fire danger with Santa Ana winds gusting at more than 65 miles per hour, spreading the flames into dry grass in the surrounding orchards and fields, according to officials….