‘It got here so fast’: Mountain Fire destroys century-old Santa Paula home as homeowner escapes with pets

A historic 100-year-old home in Santa Paula was destroyed Wednesday after the fast-moving Mountain Fire was driven by strong winds onto the property.

The blaze left the property and several others in ruins as firefighters and local residents scrambled to contain the flames and save what they could.

Homeowner Dawn DeLeon evacuated briefly before returning to find her house engulfed in flames. "I left here, went to a house half a mile down the road, said, 'Oh, I forgot my phone.' I came back and the house was on fire and I couldn't get up here again," DeLeon said. "It got here so fast."

Despite losing her home, she managed to save her six dogs and two cats.

The house, which had stood for a century, was more than just a residence. It had rich history and held deep sentimental value to both the homeowners and the community.

"It was used for weddings, so there's a lot of dancing [that] happened in the house. It was a very happy place, little haunted, but very happy," she told KTLA's Sara Welch.

Firefighters from Ventura County were on the scene, working tirelessly to contain the blaze and protect neighboring homes along South Mountain Road. "The firemen are doing an amazing job," DeLeon said. "They had a helicopter and two fire engines on this house. Still couldn't save it, but they tried."

The 'environmental recipe' that created the devastating Mountain Fire

The Mountain Fire , which began in Balcom Canyon, spread rapidly and continues to threaten properties in the region.

Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian Heath noted that the ongoing winds remain the biggest challenge as teams work to keep the fire from crossing South Mountain Road. Winds were, however, expected to die down Wednesday.

Damage assessors are still determining the total number of homes affected by the blaze. Meanwhile, evacuation centers have been set up for displaced residents, and local fairgrounds are offering shelter for animals.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.