Topline:
After a year-long investigation, the Ventura County Fire Department has determined that the Mountain Fire — which destroyed 243 structures and burned nearly 20,000 acres near Fillmore last November — was likely a holdover fire. Strong winds appear to have blown smoldering rubber away from the tires of a tractor that had caught fire six days prior, Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said during a news conference Friday.
The Balcom Fire: A tractor operator was clearing brush on private property on Oct. 30, 2024, when he noticed a fire in the engine compartment and immediately called 911. More than 100 firefighters responded to the blaze — named the Balcom Fire — both on the ground and in the air, keeping it to just 1.8 acres. The next day, arson investigators visited the property and took images of the site, including with an infrared camera looking for hotspots. Two points of heat were identified, dug up and put out.
What went wrong: Investigators believe that on Nov. 6, 2024 — after days of cool weather that included fog, mist and even light rain — hot rubber on the burned tractor blew away in strong winds, exposing embers. Those embers then flew more than 200 feet, outside the fire containment perimeter, starting the Mountain Fire.
Reminiscent of Palisades: Officials announced in early October that the Palisades Fire was likely a holdover from the earlier Lachman Fire, which began about a week prior. Authorities have charged a 29-year-old Florida man with arson in the Lachman-Palisades case; he was extradited to California and pleaded not guilty. In the case of the Mountain Fire, prosecutors determined that there was no evidence of criminal activity, the Ventura County district attorney said Friday.
How do holdover fires happen? Experts told LAist that even with extensive mop up operations after a fire is extinguished, strong, dry winds can rekindle unseen hazards.
Go deeper: How could the Palisades Fire have reignited after a week? Experts explain