Thursday, 13 August 2026, 9:14
The fire was reported just after 1 p.m. Saturday near Lake Piru in Ventura County, according to Cal Fire. By late afternoon, evacuation orders had expanded to several zones in the unincorporated area southeast of the lake. Fire officials said at around 5:20 p.m. that forward progress had been stopped, but crews remained on scene through the night to strengthen containment lines and extinguish hot spots. By Sunday morning, officials reported the fire was 67% contained.
Officials later reported the fire was nearing full containment.
Ventura County Fire Department said multiple helicopters, including Fire Hawks 4 and 5, and mutual-aid aircraft were working the fire. "Multiple air tankers are also making retardant drops in support of ground crews," the department said. Video from the scene showed aircraft repeatedly swooping low over the rugged terrain to make water drops as firefighters worked on the ground to keep flames from advancing through dry brush.
The following zones were under evacuation orders:
Evacuation warnings were issued for PIRU-01, PIRU-14 and CDER-01, later expanding to include PIRU-10, CAS-GOLDENSTATE-B, CAS-GOLDENSTATE-D, CAS-OAKCANYON and CAS-VALVERDE-B. Evacuation orders were later downgraded to warnings, and by Sunday morning, all evacuation warnings were lifted, allowing residents to return to their homes.
Initial reports varied, with Ventura County officials putting the burn area at 95 acres and NBC Los Angeles, citing Cal Fire, reporting 50 acres. Later Saturday, Cal Fire said the fire had grown to 167 acres and remained 0% contained. The Ventura County Fire Department also reported the fire at approximately 167 acres. By Sunday morning, containment had grown to 67%.
The fire is burning in the rugged Holser Canyon area, about 6 miles southeast of Lake Piru in unincorporated Ventura County. The region is a popular recreation corridor along the Santa Clara River Valley, and nearby communities include Piru and Fillmore. The National Weather Service has extended an Extreme Heat Warning for the northern Ventura County mountains through 8 p.m., with a Heat Advisory in effect for most of the rest of the county. The heat warning remains in effect through 8 p.m. Sunday, and the heat advisory includes many coastal communities.
Ventura County has a history of destructive wildfires, especially during late-summer heat. Dry vegetation and steep terrain can make fires like this one difficult to contain. The cause of the Holser Fire remains under investigation. Officials said there was a possible threat to powerlines and infrastructure, including the Piru Dam.
Authorities urged residents to avoid the area as firefighting operations continued. With forward progress stopped and all evacuation warnings lifted, crews continued to work on containment lines and extinguish hot spots. Additional resources were assigned as crews worked to stop the fire's spread. Check your local sheriff and fire department channels for the latest updates on evacuation zones and warnings.
