2 Small Blazes Break Out in Ojai; Forest Fire Contained

Two fires broke out about the same time in Ojai on Friday, one a small hedge behind Nordhoff High School that went up in flames and the other involving a section of creek bed off California 150, authorities said.

Meanwhile, a forest fire that burned for four days and blackened 600 acres in Los Padres National Forest northeast of Ojai is out, federal fire officials said.

In the smaller fires, the hedge blaze erupted about 1:25 p.m. behind the high school at 1401 Maricopa Highway, county fire officials said.

The creek blaze started about 1:35 p.m. off the highway near Osborn Road.

There were unconfirmed reports of children seen fleeing the area of both fires, but there had been no arrests as of Friday night, fire officials said.

Both blazes were quickly doused and contained to less than an acre each.

The forest fire, which started Tuesday afternoon near Kings Campground on the western border of the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, was 100% contained Friday morning.

Several dozen firefighters will remain on duty in the area through the weekend to monitor potential hot spots, said Joe Pasinato, spokesman for the U. S. Forest Service.

All roads leading to the area of the fire and campground will be open for the weekend.

The cost of fighting the fire was $750,000. No structures burned, but one firefighter suffered a minor knee injury, Pasinato said.

Federal investigators said two people who were target-shooting in a legal shooting area near the campground caused the fire. There have been no arrests.

The fire was the first major blaze in Ventura County since the start of the fire season June 1.