California crews battle brush fire northwest of Los Angeles as flames inch toward neighborhood

Calif. brush fire threatens homes northwest of LA

CAMARILLO, Calif. — A 20-acre widlfire threatened homes and sent up huge plumes of smoke Tuesday afternoon about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Fire spokesman Bill Nash says around 150 firefighters worked in the neighborhood of Camarillo Heights as flames inched toward homes near Highway 101.

Two helicopters were dropping water on the flames and two more air tankers had been ordered.

Nash says the fire is being driven by fuel and steep terrain, but most residents have cleared space around their homes.

No evacuations have been ordered so trucks can get access to the twisty roads. Residents are being asked to shelter in place.

The neighborhood is a mix of large new houses and older homes.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire in California threatened homes in the Ventura County city of Camarillo on Tuesday afternoon.

Fire spokesman Bill Nash says about 150 firefighters battled the blaze as it inched toward a neighborhood near Highway 101, about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The fire burned about 20 acres since it was first reported mid-afternoon Tuesday.

Two helicopters were dropping water on the flames and two more air tankers had been ordered.