Wednesday Morning: Holser Fire at 45% Containment, 3,000+ Acres Burned
This photo was taken by a firefighter at the Hathaway Gate between Lake Piru and Hasley Canyon.
This photo was taken by a firefighter at the Hathaway Gate between Lake Piru and Hasley Canyon.

At approximately 2pm on Monday, August 17th, a vehicle fire spread to nearby brush on Piru Canyon Road, sparking what is now the Holser Fire. By Tuesday morning the fire had spread to over 3,000 acres, requiring voluntary evacuation from Highway 126 to north of Lake Piru, east to Val Verde, and west to Piru Canyon Road, excluding the town of Piru. As of Tuesday morning, the fire was 20% contained, but burning only three miles west of Hasley Canyon, a community of upscale ranches. Firefighters took advantage of the lower temps and higher relative humidity overnight to perform firing operations to secure the fires edge while taking advantage of natural barriers. This photo of the destruction of the Holser Fire was taken by a firefighter in Oak Canyon near the Hathaway Gate just east of Lake Piru. The Hathaway and Lechler families have land-leased (Spanish grants) over 12,000 acres in the area for generations. Cooperating Agencies: Ventura County Fire Dept., LA County Fire Dept., Cal Fire, USFS R5, VCSO, with over 400 fire personnel involved.