Forward progress stopped on fire burning near Holser Canyon in Ventura County

A brush fire that broke out near Holser Canyon, about 6 miles southeast of Lake Piru in unincorporated Ventura County, prompted evacuation orders and warnings Saturday afternoon.

The Holser Fire has burned approximately 167 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The fire was first reported around 1 p.m.

Fire officials said at around 5:20 p.m. that forward progress had been stopped, but crews will remain on scene through the night to strengthen containment lines and extinguish hot spots.

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.

Evacuation orders that were issued for several nearby areas have since been downgraded to warnings.

Evacuation warnings remain in effect for the following Ventura County zones:

• PIRU-01


• PIRU 10


• PIRU-14


• CDER-01


• LAKP-02


• LAKP-04


• LAKP-05


• LAKP-06

For the latest evacuation orders and warnings, click here.

"Multiple helicopters, including Fire Hawks 4 and 5 and mutual-aid aircraft, are working the fire," the Ventura County Fire Department said. "Multiple air tankers are also making retardant drops in support of ground crews."

More than 200 firefighters and 80 fire engines were assigned to the incident, the department added.

Authorities urged residents to avoid the area as firefighting operations continue.

The fire comes as the National Weather Service has extended an Extreme Heat Warning for the northern Ventura County mountains through 8 p.m. Sunday. A Heat Advisory also remains in effect for much of the rest of Ventura County, including many coastal communities.