'Out of Control' Fire <br />Threatens Thousands<br /> in Southern California The fire began on Monday in Santa Paula, California, has spread more than 45,000 <br />acres as of Tuesday morning and now closes in on the city of <br />Ventura and its 100,000 residents. Ventura County, Santa Paula and <br />the city of Ventura have all <br />proclaimed a local emergency. Mark Lorenzen<br />Ventura County Fire Chief Ventura County Sheriff More than 7,000 homes in the area are under mandatory evacuation.
