Southern California firefighters gain ground over wildfire thanks to decreased winds

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Southern California firefighters gained ground Friday against a wildfire that has destroyed at least 132 structures, mostly houses, as favorable conditions were expected to continue through the weekend after two days of dangerous gusty winds.

Forecasters expect light winds over the weekend that will continue to aid firefighters. Meteorologists are monitoring a weather system that could hit Southern California next week but it is not expected to bring another round of extreme winds like earlier this week.

Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff said Friday that 3,500 houses have been repopulated, but residents of 2,000 homes still have not been able to go back.

Maryanne Belote was among those who returned Friday to sift through the charred remains of their properties. She went home to her hillside neighborhood in Camarillo, a city northwest of Los Angeles, after making a harrowing escape with her cat, her dog and her horses as the blaze raged in the area. The only thing standing was a rock wall she built.

“If I hadn’t gotten the horses, I would have been devastated, but I have my family and I have my animals so, I’m OK. I will rebuild,” she said standing outside the remains of her home of 50 years while her dog stayed in her car.

The Mountain Fire started Wednesday morning in Ventura County and had grown to 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometers). It was 14% contained Friday evening.

“We had no external or lateral movement today,” Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said Friday. “That is fantastic.”

Bill Nardoni and his family sifted through the rubble of their Camarillo home on Friday afternoon and discovered his wedding ring in a safe. But his wife's, kept in a different safe in another part of their house, remained missing and Nardoni did not have high hopes that it would be found intact.

Nardoni, his wife and his visiting mother-in-law fled Wednesday morning with their dogs as flames engulfed both sides of their road. They returned Friday to devastation at a home they'd bought only a year ago that was still going through a remodel.

“The house is decimated. There’s nothing to be salvaged really out of it,” he said. "I don’t know what we’ll do.”

Over three days, thousands of people were under evacuation orders as the fire threatened about 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas around Camarillo in Ventura County.

At least 88 additional structures were damaged in addition to the 132 destroyed. Officials did not specify whether they had been burned or affected by water or smoke damage. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Ten people suffered smoke inhalation or other injuries that were not life-threatening, Fryhoff said Thursday.

The next day, the sheriff said his deputies will be deploying cadaver dogs in the area as a precaution, even though no one has been reported missing.

Officials in several Southern California counties urged residents to be on watch for fast-spreading blazes, power outages and downed trees during the latest round of notorious Santa Ana winds, including in a rural area of northern San Diego County where a brush fire prompted mandatory evacuations Friday afternoon.

Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore, moving in the opposite direction of the normal onshore flow that carries moist air from the Pacific. They typically occur during the fall months and continue through winter and into early spring.

The red flag warnings, indicating conditions for high fire danger, expired in most of the area Thursday, except in the Santa Susana Mountains where the warnings expired Friday morning when winds began diminishing.

An air quality alert for harmful fine particle pollution was in effect from Friday morning until Saturday afternoon due to smoke from the wildfires.

More than a dozen school districts and campuses in Ventura County were closed Friday due to impacts from the fires, according to the county’s Office of Education.

The Mountain Fire was burning in a region that has seen some of California’s most destructive fires over the years. The fire swiftly grew from less than half a square mile (about 1.2 square kilometers) to more than 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in little more than five hours on Wednesday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in Ventura County.

Rodriguez reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Jae C. Hong in Camarillo, California, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

The remains of a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire is shown in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The remains of a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire is shown in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Heidi Nardoni, right, and family friends search her home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Bill Nardoni, foreground, and family friends search his home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A home destroyed by the Mountain Fire is reflected in water from a swimming pool in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The remains of a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire is shown in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Heidi Nardoni, at right in doorway, and family friends search her home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Peter Banks helps search the home of the Nardoni family that was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Heidi Nardoni, left, and family friends search her home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Heidi Nardoni, left, and Peter Banks adjust masks as they search her home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Bill Nardoni shows his wedding ring that was found in the remains of his home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The remains of a car sits at the site of a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The remains of a car sit under debris at the site of a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter works near homes destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter works at a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters work at a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Partial remains of a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire remains standing in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters work at a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Firefighters gather at a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Joey Parish visits his home, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, which was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Firefighters gather at a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Joey Parish phones his wife, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, while standing in front of his home, which was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Fawn Parish hugs battalion chief Robert Welsbie, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, as his firefighters help sift through rubble at her home, which was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Joey Parish walks through his home, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, which was destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A chimney stands at a home destroyed by the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows the flames surrounding a house near Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday Nov. 7, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP)

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows fire-ravaged houses in Camarillo, Calif., on Thursday Nov. 7, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP)

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows houses in Camarillo, Calif., before being damaged by the fire, on Thursday Nov. 7, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP)

This combo of two satellite images released by Maxar Technologies shows houses before and after being fire-ravaged in Camarillo, Calif., Thursday Nov. 7, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP)

A firefighter prepares to douse flames while battling the Mountain Fire on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Santa Paula, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A firefighter battling the Mountain Fire watches flames from a firing operation burn off vegetation around Swanhill Farms in Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Todd Howard sifts through the remains of his parents' fire-ravaged property after the Mountain Fire swept through, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Marvin Meador walks on the remains of his fire-ravaged property after the Mountain Fire swept through, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A helicopter drops water as the Mountain Fire burns along South Mountain Rd. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Santa Paula, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A helicopter drops water while battling the Mountain Fire along Waters Road in Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Jaime Hernandez sprays water to defend his home while battling approaching flames from the Mountain Fire near Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Hernandez has been staying behind to fight multiple wildfires since 1988. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Firefighters and sheriff's deputies push a vintage car away from a burning home as the Mountain Fire burns in Camarillo, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Horses gallop in an enclosure at Swanhill Farms as the Mountain Fire burns in Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Kelly Barton, left, is hugged by a family friend after arriving at her parents' fire-ravaged property in the aftermath of the Mountain Fire, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Todd Howard, left, sifts through the remains of his parents' fire-ravaged property with the help of firefighters after the Mountain Fire swept through, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Camarillo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A firefighter walks through smoke while battling the Mountain Fire on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Santa Paula, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Inmate firefighters battle the Mountain Fire at Swanhill Farms in Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Flames from the Mountain Fire leap along a hillside as a horse stands in an enclosure at Swanhill Farms in Moorpark, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A pair of Americans delivered command performances halfway around the world during Thanksgiving week. One was Peter Uihlein, the former U.S. Amateur champion and two-time Walker Cup player, winning by five shots in Qatar on the Asian Tour.

The other was Ryggs Johnston, and well, some introductions might be in order.

Don't get the idea Johnston came out of nowhere when he won the Australian Open — unless Libby, Montana, and its population of 3,725 is anyone's idea of nowhere. He was named after Mel Gibson's character in “Lethal Weapon.”

The best golfer to come out of Montana?

“Hands down, Ryggs Johnston,” Jeff Dooley said with a chuckle, because the best humor is often found in truth.

Dooley is the head pro at Cabinet View Golf Club, which has 250 members who buy passes for a seven-month golf season on an 18-hole course overlooking the Cabinet Mountains, just east of Idaho and south of Canada. He watched Johnston develop and knew there was something special about the way he played, the way he scored.

“I've been saying for a long time, it's inevitable we're going to see Ryggs on TV in a tournament,” Dooley said, perhaps not realizing that moment would keep him up past midnight to see Johnston look unflappable in his three-shot win at Kingston Heath.

“Everybody was just wired, all the golf pros," Dooley said. “There was a huge text stream going across Montana.”

The best in Montana at age 24? A case can be made. The most notable tour professional from Montana was Mike Grob, who won six times on the Canadian Tour and spent one full year on the PGA Tour.

Five months into his professional career, in his second start as a European tour member, Johnston won golf's fifth-oldest championship at the Australian Open to get his name on the Stonehaven Cup along with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, and more recently Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.

The Australian Open also was must-see TV further south in Tempe, Arizona, where Arizona State coach Matt Thurmond was never more proud.

Thurmond heard all about Johnston and tried to recruit him when he was coach at Washington, only to learn about that sixth-grade project when the teacher asked students to write down their dream. Johnston's dream: “Go to ASU and play golf.”

Thurmond was hired at Arizona State in 2016 and getting Johnston became a lot easier.

Johnston never won a tournament in college but always was in the starting rotation. He was third at the NCAA Championship in 2021 as a sophomore and finished with four straight top 10s to end his career.

He spent five years at Arizona State because of the COVID-19 pandemic and made good use of his time. The Pac-12 scholar-athlete of the year as a senior, Johnston is a few courses short of a Masters' degree from ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management.

He finished at No. 17 in the PGA Tour University ranking, which made him exempt for the Canada portion of the PGA Tour Americas schedule, and exempt into the second stage of PGA Tour qualifying this week.

Except that Johnston won't be there, all because the Sun Devil took a pitchfork in the road that involved some of Thurmond's best coaching off the course.

Johnston figured he could try all three stages of European tour Q-school and still get home in time for the second stage of PGA Tour qualifying.

“It was funny because it took me forever to get him to go to the British Amateur,” Thurmond said. “He always said, ‘I’m a U.S. guy.' But it slowly changed. He visited (David) Puig in Spain, played the European Amateur. But I couldn't believe it when he called. I told him why not? Give yourself a chance."

He made it through the first stage in France with three shots to spare. He went to Spain a month later and tied for third in the second stage, and a week later sailed through 108 holes in Spain at the final stage to earn a European tour card.

Two weeks later, he headed Down Under to make his European tour debut in the Australian PGA and tied for 43rd in a rain-shortened event, then went 1,100 miles down the coast to Melbourne for the Australian Open.

The famed Melbourne sand belt was soaked by rain, and Johnston at this point was worn out. He played 10 out of 12 weeks in Canada. He flew to France, came home, spent two more weeks in Spain enduring the pressure of Q-school, came back home and then headed to Australia.

"I really didn’t have any expectations,” Johnston said, “which probably helped me in the end.”

Johnston said he might not have thought about European tour qualifying if not for the encouragement of Thurmond. The coach feels Johnston knew the right path and only wanted to hear some confirmation.

Either way, it couldn't have worked out any better. Instead of coming back to America for the second stage of Q-school, Johnston is at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, with Max Homa as the defending champion against a field that includes Will Zalatoris, Corey Conners, Thriston Lawrence and Nicolai Hojgaard.

Johnston starts next year with tournaments like the Dubai Desert Classic, which features McIlroy and Jon Rahm. The victory gives him a spot in the British Open at Royal Portrush, his first major unless he can qualify for another before then.

“He's come a long, long way,” Thurmond said. “Of all the people, to think of Ryggs being in South Africa this week blows my mind.”

Still to come by the of the year is a trip home to Libby, the tiny Montana town tucked in the northwest corner that is planning a homecoming for the latest Australian Open champion.

“I’ve got a lot of messages from friends saying the whole town is watching,” Johnston said Sunday. “It’s just really cool to have that kind of support, the thing that you don’t see much other than from small towns.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Ryggs Johnston of the United States reacts after winning the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ryggs Johnston of the United States waits to putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ryggs Johnston of the United States kisses the Stonehaven Cup after winning the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Ryggs Johnston of the United States holds the Stonehaven Cup after winning the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)