Some homeowners in Ventura County are now getting a glimpse of what’s left of their property after the Mountain Fire charred nearly 21,000 acres, destroyed at least 132 structures and damaged 88 others.  

The wildfire, which is still burning, was only 5% contained as of Thursday evening.  

“Yesterday, we watched for three hours as it burned,” Tara Wallace, who lives in Camarillo Heights with her husband Brian Wallace, told KTLA. “It was a beautiful home with a beautiful view of a beautiful city and now it is ash.”  

Urgency of the wildfire, which prompted officials to evacuate more than 400 homes, has turned to resignation for many in the Camarillo Heights neighborhood where dozens of homes were completely lost to the flames.  

Both musicians, Brian pointed out where is recording studio used to be.  

The Wallace’s mid-century home had been in the family for more than 60 years, but much like other properties on Highland Drive and on Old Coach Drive, very little survived the fire.  

Brian and Tara lost all their instruments, their pottery studio and a tricked out classic Volvo.  

Amid the destruction, though, their pets miraculously survived.  

“We have two little chickens and they’re safe and sound right now in a garage,” Tara said.  

There were also others near the raging wildfire who were grateful their homes were spared. 

“Why ours? I don’t know. I’m grateful. I love my house, and I love living here, but I don’t know why,” a woman identified only as Kimberly told KTLA. “It’s just been devastating.”  

As for the Wallaces, they said that although their home is gone, they’re grateful that they have community to lean on.  

“We can’t do this alone,” Brian explained. “We can’t make music alone, can’t make art alone. This is our community.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help the Wallaces as they work through this difficult time.  

A mandatory No-Burn Day alert has been issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, prohibiting all residential wood burning in the South Coast Air Basin due to high levels of air pollution.

The alert, which will be in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Friday, applies to residents in Orange County and the non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Exemptions apply to mountain communities above 3,000 feet, the Coachella Valley, and the High Desert, as well as homes that rely on wood as their sole heat source or are in low-income households without natural gas service.

Air quality levels have been adversely affected by multiple wildfires in the area, including the Mountain Fire burning in Ventura County. Heavy winds also kicked up ash and dust into the air, leading to a Windblown Dust and Ash advisory being issued Wednesday.

The No-Burn rule bans the burning of wood, including manufactured fire logs made from wax or paper, in fireplaces and any indoor or outdoor wood-burning devices. The purpose of the ban is to protect public health when high levels of fine particulate air pollution are forecast.

“Smoke from wood burning can cause health problems. Particles in wood smoke — also known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5 — can get deep into the lungs and cause respiratory problems, including asthma attacks,” South Coast AQMD said in its statement.

This is the first No-Burn alert for the 2024-2025 season.

Residents can sign up for e-mail alerts when a No-Burn Day is declared. For more information on No-Burn Days and to access real-time air quality updates, click here.

Firefighters hope to take advantage of a break in the winds Thursday morning as they continue to battle the Mountain Fire in Ventura County that has already scorched thousands of acres and destroyed dozens of homes.

The fire broke out just before 9 a.m. Wednesday near Balcom Canyon Road and Bradley Road, north of the 118 Freeway. Initially reported as a 50-acre fire fueled by brush and Santa Ana winds, it jumped the freeway and exploded to over 14,000 acres by Wednesday night.

According to Cal Fire, the fire was mapped at 14,500 acres and had no containment as of 7 a.m. Thursday.

Video showed countless homes burning as the fire raged throughout the day and night. The exact number of homes destroyed is still unknown as officials say it is still too dangerous to survey the area.

Fire officials said thousands of homes in Moorpark, Camarillo, Camarillo Heights and Santa Paula remained threatened Thursday morning. Mandatory evacuations have forced more than 10,000 people from their homes.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

An evacuation center was established at Padre Serra Parish, 5205 Upland Ave., in Camarillo. Large animals could be brought to the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 E. Harbor Blvd. Smaller animals can be taken to Ventura County Animal Services at the Camarillo Airport, 600 Aviation Drive.

The Ventura County Office of Education announced that dozens of schools will be closed on Thursday due to the fire.