Firefighters were engaged right off the bat with pulling people out of their houses and saving lives,” said Trevor Johnson, Operations Chief of the Ventura County Fire Department at a press conference today to discuss the Mountain Fire northwest of Los Angeles.

The fire prompted evacuation orders for more than 10,000 people as it threatened structures in suburban communities and agricultural areas around Camarillo.

Driven by powerful Santa Ana winds, the Mountain Fire in Ventura County forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate from their homes as it exploded by thousands of acres within hours, injuring people and destroying homes in its path.

The Mountain Fire has destroyed dozens of homes in Camarillo, Moorpark, and Somis - and continues to pose a threat to thousands of homes as Santa Ana winds sweep through Southern California.