It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Crowley House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Thousand Oaks, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I have partnered with Tom in Thousand Oaks for a couple years now, I can”
“Caring and sensitive. David is so focused on helping families. He is such an asset”
“Always Best Care has been helping my 94 year old Mother very much! The Caregivers”
“Been with the company for approximately like 6 months ,love it , great supervisors n”
“I’ve worked with a few agencies and my experience with Always Best Care has been”
“I've worked with ABC for over a year now. I've worked for other organizations”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa was a great friend to my father and”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa is the best. Upbeat, knows what she’s”
“After researching several Home Health Care companies in my area, I choose Always Best Care”
“First let me say that this review was not solicited by any one at Always”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does”
“I am a current client of this provider We are with Always Best Care. We have”
“Tom and his team of caregivers do a great job. I highly recommend Always”
“I’m a registered nurse and having Erin help me with this process was seamless. She”
“I've been with the company a lil over 3months maybe longer and love the respect”
“This is the finest company in home care, I would highly recommend it for your”
“Stellar service and care! Highly recommend!”
“This is truly a team you can trust to take care of your loved one.”
“I have partnered with Tom in Thousand Oaks for a couple years now, I can attest that he strives to provide the best quality care for his clients and a positive work environment for his employees. Great agency! Highly recommend!”
“Caring and sensitive. David is so focused on helping families. He is such an asset to our hospital. Families don't know where to start and David gets the ball rolling and smooths the way. What a blessing to these families.”
“Always Best Care has been helping my 94 year old Mother very much! The Caregivers are wonderful and helpful and willing to go the extra mile. I am so happy to have their team a part of our lives! Thank you!”
“Been with the company for approximately like 6 months ,love it , great supervisors n boss , overall great company for work for , great communication from supervisors ,n always a pleasure to work with wonderful clients”
“I’ve worked with a few agencies and my experience with Always Best Care has been phenomenal. The professionalism.and respect they show to us caregivers makes me feel appreciated as well as giving me opportunity to learn and grow in my services I provide to my clients with the workshops they provide every month.”
“I've worked with ABC for over a year now. I've worked for other organizations that provide senior care services but the Always Best Care Thousand Oaks location has been a wonderful place to work. The working relationship between staff, client and ownership/management is that it's important for us all to be happy. I've been placed with so many wonderful people that I can say are not only my clients but also my friends. They really try to provide the right client with the right caregiver and with me it has been a wonderful experience and a great place to work.”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa was a great friend to my father and treated him like family. It was reassuring to us to know he was looked after by a loving and caring person. She was always available to us and she was able to adjust her schedule to his needs. Nisa allowed my father to stay in his home longer and provided him new freedom he had not had previously.”
“I am a past client of this provider Nisa is the best. Upbeat, knows what she’s doing, was great with my mom. We all felt very comfortable when she was caring for mom.”
“After researching several Home Health Care companies in my area, I choose Always Best Care and was extremely pleased with the decision I made. Always Best Care checked every box on my list and was the absolute best choice for my post-surgery needs. Start to finish, the entire organization was professional, responsive, and provided the services I was in need of. Caregivers were exceptional in responding to my needs in addition to providing warm companionship that aided in a worry free recovery. Always Best Care delivered as promised and I highly recommend them for Home Health Care needs. MMD”
“First let me say that this review was not solicited by any one at Always Best Care Senior Services. The services provided by Always Best are both personal and professional. All of my calls were always answered by Tom ( the owner). Never was I left to wonder if I was going to get assistance for my mother and her significant other. From the top down I found everyone to be patient, kind, attentive, accessible, problem solvers, with an “I can get it done” attitude. The services provided by Always Best, required end of life care. The care givers worked seamlessly with Hospice. Every step of the way I could see both my mother and the patient were lovingly cared for. I look forward to using this agency as needed for my mother. Thank you, Tom and all of your care angels!”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does not currently have a Gmail account. Always Best Care has been a true blessing with providing a wonderful caregiver who is kind, patient and supportive with my 95 year old mother's needs which include a downward cognitive slide. My mom enjoys the support and care too. I've heard horror stories about such services, but have been beyond pleased with Tom and his caregiving agency. Lori Robinson- Ventura County”
“I am making this post on the behalf of my mother in law who does not currently have a Gmail account. Always Best Care has been a true blessing with providing a wonderful caregiver who is kind, patient and supportive with my 95 year old mother's needs which include a downward cognitive slide. My mom enjoys the support and care too. I've heard horror stories about such services, but have been beyond pleased with Tom and his caregiving agency. Lori Robinson- Ventura County”
“I am a current client of this provider We are with Always Best Care. We have been with them for two weeks now. They were great, and we have had a good experience so far. The caregiver is great. She has been like a lifeline for us; she has been nice. The scheduling has been fine, and everything has been working great.”
“Tom and his team of caregivers do a great job. I highly recommend Always Best Care of Thousand Oaks.”
“I’m a registered nurse and having Erin help me with this process was seamless. She is comforting, empathetic, and very knowledgeable. Thanks again Erin! Natalie Schauwecker, RN”
“I've been with the company a lil over 3months maybe longer and love the respect they give us caregivers and employees. We are a team as they say welcome to the team and it truly is a team more like a family here. They take our schedules and work with us and don't pay us low as all other places. You get what you pay for. I've worked for Disneyland Resorts and this is much like the atmosphere there very friendly and non judgemental and truly caring understanding team. Tom the owner is one of us he doesn't put himself above us neither does Erin. They are both friendly. Moving up in the company is possible as i have already and my kids are much happier because mommy actually loves her job. No one is paying me to write this i don't do reviews typically because the time it takes but i believe in our team amd if you want great care and affordable care please try us for a week and I personally guarantee you, you'll be the next to write a review.”
“This is the finest company in home care, I would highly recommend it for your family!”
“Stellar service and care! Highly recommend!”
“This is truly a team you can trust to take care of your loved one. It is obvious, Tom and his team have a passion for the work they do. They are so patient and kind and treated us and our loved one like one of their own members of the family. We are forever grateful.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Conejo Creek North Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Mastro's Steakhouse or visit Pederson Ranch House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Thousand Oaks, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Thousand Oaks, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Thousand Oaks, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Just 8 minutes ago, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, California, USA. The tremor was recorded early afternoon on Friday, November 22nd, 2024, at 2:15 pm local time, at a very shallow depth of 6 miles below the surface.The event was filed by the United States Geological Survey, the first seismological agency to report it.A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 3.5 earthquake as well.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the...
Just 8 minutes ago, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, California, USA. The tremor was recorded early afternoon on Friday, November 22nd, 2024, at 2:15 pm local time, at a very shallow depth of 6 miles below the surface.The event was filed by the United States Geological Survey, the first seismological agency to report it.A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 3.5 earthquake as well.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter. Weak shaking might have been felt in Malibu (pop. 13,000) located 3 miles from the epicenter, Agoura Hills (pop. 20,900) 5 miles away, Agoura (pop. 20,500) 7 miles away, Picture City (pop. 20,500) 7 miles away, and Thousand Oaks (pop. 129,300) 7 miles away.Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Simi Valley (pop. 126,800) located 14 miles from the epicenter, Camarillo (pop. 67,600) 17 miles away, Santa Monica (pop. 93,200) 18 miles away, and Los Angeles (pop. 3,898,700) 32 miles away.
If you felt it, report it through our site or app right now!
Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic alerts online:Android | IOS
Earthquake data:
I felt this quake
Date & time: Nov 22, 2024 02:15 pm (Los Angeles time) local time (22 Nov 2024 22:15 GMT)Magnitude: 3.5Depth: 9.6 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude: 34.07°N / 118.8°W (Los Angeles, California, United States)Primary data source: USGS
Fri, 22 Nov 2024, 09:37
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Kos, Dodecanese, South Aegean, Greece, was reported only 6 minutes ago by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), considered the main national agency that monitors seismic activity in Greece. The earthquake occurred at an intermediate depth of 106.2 km beneath the epicenter in the morning on Friday, November 22nd, 2024, at 11:29 am local time. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report. ... Read all
Fri, 22 Nov 2024, 08:22
An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 occurred only 17 minutes ago 66 miles southeast of Sand Point, Alaska, United States, the United States Geological Survey reported. ... Read all
Show more
UPDATE: Mountain Fire displaces 10,000 people as extreme winds fan flamesCAMARILLO, Ventura County — A fast-moving wildfire exploded in size and ferocity in Southern California northwest of Los Angeles on Wednesda...
UPDATE: Mountain Fire displaces 10,000 people as extreme winds fan flames
CAMARILLO, Ventura County — A fast-moving wildfire exploded in size and ferocity in Southern California northwest of Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing residents of Ventura County to evacuate as flames spread over more than 14,000 acres of vegetated hillsides dotted with homes.
The Mountain Fire broke out Wednesday morning 15 miles north of Thousand Oaks and posed an “immediate threat to life,” Cal Fire announced. It was 0% contained Wednesday evening and threatened at least 3,500 homes, according to the Ventura County Fire Department and federal officials. The blaze started within minutes of a separate grass fire that engulfed two homes on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Firefighters struggled to make progress amid heavy winds that derailed efforts to fight the flames from above and threatened to worsen conditions overnight.
“This fire is moving dangerously fast,” Trevor Johnson, a fire captain with the Ventura County Fire Department told reporters at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “Firefighters were right off the bat pulling people from their houses and saving lives. It was as intense as it gets.”
Aerial video footage provided by the department Wednesday afternoon showed dozens of homes burning in several neighborhoods as embers spread. Horses and other large animals were being taken to several established evacuation areas, county officials said. Fire officials said they would not know how many structures were affected until Thursday at the earliest.
Two residents were hospitalized with injuries after inhaling smoke, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andy VanSciver said. No major injuries were reported among firefighters as of Wednesday afternoon.
An evacuation shelter for displaced residents was opened at Padre Serra Parish at 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo, Cal Fire said. An evacuation center for large animals was opened at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and a center for small animals was opened at the Ventura County Animal Services, officials said.
The Camarillo evacuation shelter was a relatively quiet atmosphere Wednesday night, with staff serving pizza and other food to evacuees. Some evacuees had been there since mid-day, while others showed up later in the afternoon.
Dave Wagner, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, told a Chronicle reporter that the shelter would remain open overnight to accommodate evacuees that had nowhere to go.
“They (evacuees) can come, they can meet their family members here,” said Wagner. “They can get information about what the fire is doing, what roads are closed. We have the Salvation Army here feeding them. We have some nurses from the Ventura County Volunteer Corps. They’ve been treating things like minor burns and and scratches and bruises from people evacuating in a hurry. We also had a nursing home that was in the line of the fire and it was too smoky. So they moved some of the nursing home residents here.”
Evgeniya Lautt, 22, an evacuee at the shelter on Wednesday, described the fire as “personal” since her family had to evacuate from their home.
“I have processed it emotionally very well,” said Lautt. “And I got to understand that firefighters have to do their job. And whatever they do, if my house survives, it’s great. If my house does (not) survive, then it’s got to be we have to take it as a loss. There’s some stuff I wish I could have grabbed, but, you know, you have to choose what is important. So, food is important. Medicine is important and clothes are definitely important. Other stuff I can replace later on.”
Another evacuee at the shelter, April Laycock said she and her partner were new residents in West Camarillo and received an evacuation alert between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
“At the time we were at a doctor’s appointment, so I had to send a message to him (her partner) to get the pets, and get them out,” said Laycock. “Then we actually drove around for a couple of hours because we weren’t sure what we were supposed to do, and then I finally found the instructions to come here. And then where to take the pets as well. But the cats actually did much better than the dog did! She was whining the whole time.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the use of federal funds for firefighting equipment and supplies Wednesday afternoon as the footprint expanded into residential and commercial districts of the densely populated urban area, the agency announced.
Powerful wind speeds complicated firefighting efforts, however, with gusts topping 80 mph that were expected to continue until Thursday evening. Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner called conditions “a classic Santa Ana wind event” with high wind warnings and advisories issued for much of Central and Southern California.
“Bushes are burning, hedgerows are burning, agricultural fields are burning and structures are burning,” Gardner said. “Agencies are doing everything they can to protect lives.”
Robbie Munroe, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Oxnard, called wind conditions “fairly rare” and said they resembled those that ignited the destructive 2018 Woolsey and 2019 Thomas fires.
As of 3 p.m., Caltrans said the flames were approaching Highway 101 and were moving west toward Camarillo, a city with 71,000 residents. Traffic on Highway 101 slowed “due to limited smoke visibility” as evacuations continued in the area, Caltrans said.
Earlier in the day, the blaze moved south toward the populated communities of Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, hopping several lanes of traffic on Highway 118 shortly before noon. Rescue crews were helping to evacuate residents, with Los Angeles FOX-affiliate KTTV airing footage of Ventura County Sheriff deputies pushing an older adult in a wheelchair from a home inside the smoke-filled fire zone.
“It’s like trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun,” Tony McHale, captain of the Ventura County Fire Department, told KABC.
In the 15 minutes before the Mountain Fire was first spotted around 8:55 a.m. along Balcom Canyon Road, strong easterly winds began blowing down branches and electrical equipment, according to Ventura County Fire Department radio traffic reviewed by the Chronicle.
Firefighters responded to at least four reports of electrical hazards in Somis, Oxnard, Ventura and Simi Valley in the minutes before the fire ignited.The first firefighter on the scene radioed dispatch requesting Southern California Edison to report to the scene due to downed power lines in the area.
According to its website, the utility had cut electricity to nearly 70,000 customers in seven Southern California counties as of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 24,000 of them in Ventura, and nearly 260,000 more were being considered as part of a public safety power shutoff to prevent its equipment from sparking blazes during the extreme fire weather conditions. The planned shutoffs could last through Thursday, officials said.
One woman who lives off of Balcom Canyon Road and declined to give her name said she received a notification from SoCal Edison on Tuesday warning that power could be shut off to her property. But on Tuesday morning, when the fire hit, she still had electricity.
The morning was “super, super, super, super windy,” she said. Smelling smoke, she gathered her animals and immediately evacuated, passing hot spots of flame as she drove off the mountain.
“It was hard to tell where it started because it happened so fast,” she said.
Strong winds are predicted to continue through at least Thursday morning in Ventura County. The National Weather Service in Oxnard forecasts gusts of 60 to 70 mph and relative humidity as low at 8%. The weather service has since evacuated its office in northeast Oxnard, according to meteorologist in charge, Ariel Cohen.
The Moorpark Unified School District, with nearly 6,000 students in total, announced that several schools evacuated their campuses and canceled classes on Wednesday.
The Ventura County Fire Department reported that 140 firefighters were on the scene, supported by 58 fire vehicles. Additional helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were requested to assist, but the fixed-wing aircraft were ultimately grounded due to high winds.
The California Highway Patrol issued mandatory evacuation orders for areas south of Highway 118, where the fire jumped the highway. Ventura County was under a red flag warning Wednesday due to dry conditions, fire officials said. The warning was expected to last until Thursday evening.
Weather conditions in the Santa Susanna mountains were “brutal” Wednesday morning, with several stations around the Mountain Fire reporting wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph, Chronicle staff meteorologist Greg Porter said. Another wildfire broke out Wednesday morning along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, burning at least 40 acres.
At least one seaside home was reported to be engulfed in flames as a result of another blaze, the Broad Fire, according to local media reports, and the highway was closed in both directions. Malibu officials urged residents to prepare for potential evacuations.
Greg Porter, Matthias Gafni, Anthony Edwards and Harsha Devulapalli contributed to this report.
Reach Nora Mishanec: [email protected].
Nov 6, 2024|Updated Nov 6, 2024 9:18 p.m.
Breaking & Enterprise Reporter
Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle breaking news and enterprise reporter. She joined the paper in 2020 as a Hearst fellow and returned in 2022 after a stint at The Houston Chronicle.
Téa Price
Staff Writer
Aidin Vaziri is a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle.
805-563-6440
