20-Acre Arson Blaze Threatens Homes and Hospital in Santa Paula : Emergency: High temperatures and winds of 25 m.p.h. fan the flames before firefighters gain control.

Nearly a year after devastating brush fires raged across Southern California, an arson fire fueled by Santa Ana winds and high temperatures was set Saturday in Santa Paula, blackening 20 acres and threatening homes and a hospital before it was contained, authorities said.

Temperatures in the 90s, 25-m.p.h. winds and the fire’s proximity to the site of last October’s 26,500-acre Steckel fire initially fanned fears among firefighters and residents that the fire would be difficult to control. The flames came within 200 feet of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital and nearby houses, sending homeowners to rooftops armed with fire hoses.

But firefighters brought the blaze within 90% containment about an hour after the fire was reported just before 1 p.m. The fire was contained by 3 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Investigators found an incendiary device amid the burned-out brush, leading authorities to conclude that the blaze was deliberately set in a vacant field across the street from the hospital at 825 N. 10th St. Fire officials declined to give details about the device, however, citing an ongoing investigation.

Hospital officials said they were poised to evacuate the 18 patients in the facility.

“We implemented our disaster plan and were ready to evacuate everyone,” said nursing supervisor Linda Simmons. “We had only two patients who needed to be in (intensive care) facilities, and Community Memorial Hospital (in Ventura) said they could take them.”

Simmons said she and other hospital staff reported the fire to authorities at 1 p.m., after a visitor to the hospital informed her that he had seen smoke and flames in chaparral below a hospital parking lot.

Within minutes after the fire was reported, about 60 Santa Paula and Ventura County firefighters were on the scene and two helicopters were showering water on the burning chaparral.

The fire traveled west from 10th Street toward Fagan Canyon, threatening nearby avocado orchards and hillside homes near Montclair and Monte Vista drives, authorities said.

Given the weather conditions, the fire could had been much worse, said Santa Paula Fire Capt. Steven Lazenby.

“We were lucky that the winds were not as strong” as during last year’s fire, Lazenby said. “Had the winds been stronger, this fire would be all over (the area) and we probably would have had to evacuate residents.”

Brad Fujii, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said the hot, windy conditions will continue through today, but would probably die down by Monday.

Mary Doll, a resident of Monte Vista Drive, said she began hosing down her roof as soon as she saw the flames

“It’s scary,” she said. “My primarily concern was to get out alive and take my three dogs and two cats with me.”