The September 2005 California wildfires began on September 28, 2005 as a brush fire northwest of Los Angeles, California in the Santa Susana Mountains. Growing to more than 16,000 acres (65 km²) in around 2 days, the blaze threatened homes, natural resources, power lines, and communications equipment in the Simi Hills in eastern Ventura County and Thousand Oaks regions north of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Experts foresaw the problem as Southern California entered the hottest part of the fire season covered in brush that grew after the heaviest rains in more than 100 years.[1] Although the wind, dry conditions, and steep terrain made the work of firefighters difficult, the loss of property had been low (as of early October); according to news reports from Friday, September 30, one home and handful of outbuildings had been lost. Mandatory evacuations were in place, involving at least 1,500 residents of the area.
As of October 2, 2005, over 17,000 acres (69 km²) have been burned as a result of the wildfires. Furthermore, only 5% of the blaze was estimated to have been contained by the approximately 3,000 firefighters battling it... [2]
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