A vehicle crash in Ventura County ignited a 13-acre wildfire on Wednesday, underlining the potential for accidents to escalate into larger scale disasters.
The California Highway Patrol responded to a crash on the northbound lanes of SR-33, just north of Tico Road around 5:10 p.m. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Coriandra Wood from Simi Valley, is believed to have had a medical issue and fainted, leading her to drive through a wood fence and crash in a field.
The exhaust from Wood’s car set off a large brush fire in the field, which eventually spread to cover 13 acres. According to witnesses, Wood managed to extract herself from the car before the fire broke out and authorities arrived.
Three helicopters from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and multiple fire crews were deployed to the scene to beat back the flames and halt their spread. Residents in the vicinity were advised to shelter in place and some “soft evacuations” were conducted.
Wood was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center with minor injuries, and investigators confirmed that she was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. No injuries to fire crew members were reported.
The incident remains under investigation. This case serves as a reminder of how sudden, unforeseen events can result in larger scale disasters, bringing focus to the importance of fire safety regulations and efficient emergency response.