As fires rage across the southern portion of the state, residents in Ojai fear there might be nothing left of their beloved city soon.
City Manager Steve McClary did his best to address the concerns over the small town’s fate Wednesday, but his focus first and foremost is on the number one goal: getting people out and preventing loss of life.
“I’ve been telling people, ‘If you can get your loved ones and valuables to a safe place, you should,’” McClary said. As for whether the town is going to burn down, “that’s a tough answer to give. I wish I could be more specific. But this is no time for false promises.”
As of early Thursday morning, the Thomas Fire in Ventura County had burned 90,000 acres and was 5% contained. Those figures are expected to change throughout the day. Fires also continue to rage in Bel Air, Santa Clarita, and Sylmar.