Throughout the Southern California communities overlooking the beachfront city of Ventura, residents were caught off guard late Monday when the hillsides exploded in flames.

The wind-driven Thomas fire tore through communities in the middle of the night, leaving rows of homes and a psychiatric hospital in ruins Tuesday and sending tens of thousands of people fleeing for their lives.

The uncontained fire reached 50,000 acres Tuesday, according to CalFire, and Tuesday evening it jumped U.S. Highway 101, nearly reaching the ocean and forcing new evacuations.

Fire officials said earlier Tuesday that keeping the fire north of the major highway linking coastal California cities was one of their objectives.

However, the flames crossed the 101 around 8 p.m. at the rocky and sparsely populated Solimar beach, which is northwest of the densely populated city Ventura.

While people in the area had to evacuate, state fire officials say the lack of vegetation softens the blow of the fire crossing the highway.

A home and car burned by theThomas fire are seen Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura County. (Photo by Andy Holzman/Special to the Los Angeles Daily News)

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

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SANTA PAULA, Calif. Firefighters battle a santa ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas fire that exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. PHOTO BY Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec. 4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))



Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

Firefighters battle a Santa Ana wind-driven brush fire called the Thomas Fire on Dec.4, 2017 in the Santa Paula area of Ventura County. The fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, according to Ventura County fire officials. December 4, 2017. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG))

The wildfire was fanned by dry Santa Ana winds clocked at well over 60 mph that grounded firefighting helicopters and planes. By Tuesday evening it had destroyed at least 150 structures and forced the evacuation of nearly 30,000 people.

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Ventura County Tuesday afternoon saying the fire is very dangerous and residents must be ready to evacuate if told to do so.

His emergency declaration sets in motion state firefighting assistance to local governments and suspends rules that might hinder recovery efforts after the fires are put out.

Lisa Kermode ignored the first evacuation alert that buzzed on her phone when it said the fire was 15 miles away. But the flames were nearly on top of her an hour later when she rounded up her three children, still in their pajamas, and told them to grab some jeans.

They returned Tuesday to find the home in ashes, including a Christmas tree and the presents they had just bought.

“We got knots in our stomach coming back up here,” Kermode said. “We lost everything, everything, all our clothes, anything that was important to us. All our family heirlooms — it’s not sort of gone, it’s completely gone.”

The Kermode’s home wasn’t the only one the Thomas fire destroyed.

The flames and smoke seemed to come out of nowhere, barely giving John and Linda Keasler time to grab an envelope with their passports, jump in their car and flee for their lives.

Later, they would watch helplessly as their three-story hillside apartment building with its stunning Pacific Ocean views burned to the ground.

“I heard a loud boom, and I woke up my husband and I said, ‘I don’t know what’s happening,’ and we looked on the balcony, and there was smoke everywhere,” Linda Keasler said on Tuesday as she and her husband stood in the ruins of what hours earlier had been their home.

They left so quickly that they took little more than their passports and one of their two cars. Hours later they returned to find that the fire, which had leveled their apartment complex, somehow spared their other car.

Incident Commander Todd Derum told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that he suspects hundreds more homes have been destroyed on top of the 150 already destroyed by the fire.

Firefighters have been unable to reach some of the severely burned areas to confirm lost homes. But Derum says a bigger tally will likely come on Wednesday. Derum said some 3,000 homes are still threatened.

Mansions and modest homes alike were in flames. The Hawaiian Village Apartments burned to the ground. The Vista del Mar Hospital, which treats patients with mental problems or substance abuse, including veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome, smoldered after burning overnight.

Aerial footage showed dozens of homes in one neighborhood burned to the ground and a large subdivision in jeopardy as the flames spit out embers that could spark new blazes.

Nearly all schools in the county were expected to be closed Wednesday after closing Tuesday.

“We had the fire come through here, pretty dramatically, all night long,” said Karen Heath-Karayan, who stayed up with her husband to douse embers that rained on their home and small lot where they sell Christmas trees. “It was really scary.”

They were ordered to evacuate as flames got within about 100 yards, but they decided to stand their ground to protect their property, where they have chickens and goats.

They hosed down their roof and hit hotspots before winds pushed the fire over a hill toward neighboring Ventura, a city of 106,000 where more people were ordered to clear out.

“It was just exponential, huge growth because the winds, 50 miles an hour out of the east, were just pushing it and growing it very, very large, very quickly,” Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said shortly after sunrise.

The fire erupted near Santa Paula, a city of some 30,000 people about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles known for its citrus and avocado orchards and farm fields along the Santa Clara River.

Ventura County fire Division Chief Chad Cook, who worked with the aviation unit Tuesday, told Southern California News Group that the social media rumors that the presence of a drone prompted officials to ground three firefighting helicopters in Santa Paula – and later shoot it down with a water cannon – were untrue.

Nearly 180,000 customers in the Ventura County lost power, and schools in the district were closed. Some firefighting efforts were hampered when pumping stations lost power.

Despite their loss, John and Linda Keasler were counting their blessings as well.

They had lived in the Hawaiian Village apartments, with what Linda Keasler calls its “million-dollar views,” for two years. They hope to remain in Ventura, a city of 110,000 people 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. With its white sandy beaches and funky old downtown, it’s one of California’s best-kept beautiful secrets.

Although they and their neighbors had lost everything in the fire, they were grateful no one had died.

Linda Keasler said her only regret was that she didn’t think to grab boxes containing the childhood photos of her two adult sons. But she said everything else inside the apartment was replaceable.

“The truth is, it’s just things, it’s just things,” she said. “And thank God no one died.”

EVACUATION LOCATIONS

These are the mandatory and voluntary evacuation according to Ventura County.

Mandatory evacuations

Entire Community of Casitas Springs – Evacuate to Ventura County Fairgrounds – 10 West Harbor Blvd., Ventura

City of Ventura – Teloma east to Brent Street, Telegraph Road north to north of Foothill Road

East Ojai Valley – Carne Road east to McAndrew Road, Reeves Road north to Thacher Road

City of Ventura – Victoria Road east to Hill Road, Telegraph Road north to Foothill Road

City of Ventura – North Ashwood Avenue east to Hill Road, Telegraph Road north to Foothill Road

Voluntary evacuations

Residents in the City of Ventura, south of Loma Vista, east of Day Road, West of Victoria Avenue and north of Telegraph Road

Residents in the City of Ventura, east of Victoria north of Loma Vista South of Foothill west of Wells Road

All residents of the Ojai Valley not currently covered under the current mandatory evacuation

City of Fillmore – 2nd Street north to 4th Street & Island View Street east to Pole Creek

Associated Press writers Krysta Fauria, Brian Melley, Amanda Lee Myers and John Rogers contributed to this report.