Investigation Uncovers Spark Behind Ventura County Mountain Fire
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Ventura County officials announced the official cause of the Mountain Fire at a news conference Friday morning in Thousand Oaks.
The Mountain Fire was one of the most destructive fires in Ventura County history—raging across hills and neighborhoods IN HIGH WINDS.
“It was one of the scariest day of my life," said fire survivor Shawn Simon.
It was November 6th, 2024 -- flames igniting near Balcom Canyon Road and Bixby in Somis racing across nearly 20,000 acres.
The fire destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate including Shawn Simon.
“I had what mattered … my husband and my four dogs ... everything else was just stuff," said Simon.
During Friday's press conference -- nearly one year to the day -- fire officials revealed a tractor clearing debris a week earlier on October 30 in the same area, sparked a small fire.
Authorities confirmed smoldering embers from that tractor fire sparked the Mountain Fire a week later.
"We eliminated all of them except for the probability or possibility that fire could have been entombed underneath the rubber of those tractor tires ... after 7 days … and when the wind came up it blew out," said chief Dustin Gardner of the Ventura County Fire Department.
“The evidence ultimately supported one conclusion: the tractor driver acted neither maliciously nor recklessly," said district attorney Erik Nasarenko of Venturay County.
A year after the flames, answers bring relief to families still rebuilding.
“I’m grateful to be back home. We were out for eight months and four days but who’s counting," said Simon.
As recovery efforts press on, fire crews remain vigilant, working to safeguard the region ahead of the next fire season.
County officials say prosecutors have finished their review and found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing connected to the fire during the briefing at 9:30 a.m. held at the VCFD headquarters on Conejo Spectrum Street.
The announcement comes almost exactly one year after the Mountain Fire sparked major recovery efforts across the region — efforts that continue today as residents rebuild and fire crews refine prevention strategies for future wind-driven wildfires.
