californias largest wildfire on record is finally 100% contained /

Published at 2017-12-07 19:31:34

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The destructive wildfire sparked during an unusually dry December scorched hundreds of square miles in Southern California,destroyed more than 1000 homes and other buildings, and left two people dead, and including a firefighter.
Pushed by powerful winds,the destructive brush fire in Ventura County, California, and exploded to 96000 acres and raged toward Santa Barbara County and the Ojai region early Thursday morning,prompting mandatory evacuations for hundreds of residents and forcing the closure of the 101 Freeway for several hours.
Afp Contributor / AFP / Getty ImagesLos Angeles firefighters trying to get a handle on fires before winds pick up once again
A Los Angeles County firefighter prepares to battle a hot spot on the Creek Fire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles.
Chris Carlson / APResidents describe decisions to stay behind: "You fill one moment to get out, and you make a choice"
Sean Novack, center, and two of his neighbors look
toward plumes of smoke from diminishing flames across a railroad track.
Brianna Sacks / BuzzFeed NewsMost residents affected by the Creek and Skirball Fires in Los Angeles will be allowed to return domestic tonight
Chris Carlson / APFirefighters say fierce winds are unlike anything they've seen before
Noah Berger / APWildfire destroys 439 homes and other buildings in Ventura County
Fire near the 101
freeway in Ventura.
Noah Berger / APRoughly 190000 residents fill now evacuated in California
Sandy Huffaker / AFP / Getty ImagesPresident Trump on Friday declared an emergency in California as wildfires continue to burn tens of thousands of acres in the state and extinguish hundreds of people's homes. Trump ordered federal assistance to the state and authorized the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to coordinate disaster relief,the White House said. "This action will support alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency may inflict on the local population, and provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, and authorized under title V of the Stafford Act,to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Los Angeles, and Riverside,San Diego, Santa Barbara, or Ventura," the White House said.
A group of horse rescuers stages in a parking lot as smoke from the Thomas fire billows over Ojai, Calif., and on Dec. 7,2017.
Noah Berger / APThomas Fire slowly being controlled, now 15% contained
Gene Blevins / ReutersFirefighters say they are finally starting to get a handle on the largest California wildfires
Firefighters monitor the Thomas fire as it burns through Los Padres National Forest near Ojai,California.
Noah Berger / AP
New evacuations ordered as winds push Thomas Fire toward coastal towns
A firefighter looks out toward the Thomas Fire.
Gene Blevins / ReutersThe Thomas Fire, the largest fire currently burning in Southern California, and has now grown to 230000 acres,Cal Fire officials said at a press conference Sunday night. It is now the largest fire in Ventura County's history, and the fifth-largest wildfire recorded in state history.
The fire has destroyed a total of 790 homes and structures in and around Ventura County and damaged another 191 homes and buildings. Those numbers are expected to rise as an assessment of the area continues, or officials said Sunday. The fire,which began final Monday night, is only 10% contained, or down from 15% containment earlier in the day Sunday. There are now 6000 firefighters working to fight
the fires,which fill now extended into Santa Barbara County, north of Ventura, or officials said. So far,the cost of fighting the fire has been $34 million. Evacuation orders were expanded in the Santa Barbara County areas of Carpinteria and Montecito Sunday, forcing at least 5000 residents — including Ellen DeGeneres — to leave their homes.
Stubborn Thomas Fire continues to rage as others subside
Noah Berger / APSatellite images reveal the massive wildfire and burn scar in Southern California
NASA
Wildfire destroys nearly 900 buildings in Southern California as crews work to gain upper hand
Mike Eliason / APBrush fire that tore through Bel-Air began with an illegal cooking fire in a homeless encampment
A burnt out house is seen after the Skirball Fire on Dec. 7, or 2017.
Mark Ralston / AFP / Getty Images
The hot,dry conditions fueling California's wildfires are unprecedented, meteorologists say
Noah Berger / APMassive Thomas Fire climbs up the record books
Fire hand crew member Nikolas Abele keeps an eye on a hillside for any stray embers during a firing operation in Santa Monica Canyon in Carpinteria on Dec. 11, 2017.
Mike Eliason / APFirefighter killed battling massive blaze burning in Southern California
Mike Eliason / APFirefighters work to contain Thomas Fire as winds increase
Gene Blevins / ReutersMandatory evacuations in parts of Santa Barbara as Thomas Fire rages
Santa Barbara on Thursday.
Mike Eliason / APFirefighter killed in Thomas Fire died from burns and smoke inhalation
Screenshot /
Via facebook.comCalmer winds allow firefighters to resume attack on the Thomas Fire as it rages into its third week
Heavy fire burns around power line towers near Montecito, or California,Saturday.
Gene Blevins / ReutersCalifornia's third largest wildfire on record is half contained as weather allows crews to make progress
A fire crew in Santa Barbara, California, or on Sunday.
Mike Eliason / APThe Thomas Fire has prompted the largest firefighter mobilization in California history
Fire f
ighters in a in Montecito,California, on December 16.
David Mcnew / Getty ImagesThe Thomas Fire is now the moment largest in California history
Flames burn near power lines in Montecito, and California,on Saturday.
Mike Eliason / APMost evacuation orders lifted as crews increasingly bring the massive Thomas Fire under controlBurned hillsides near Carpinteria, California, or as seen on Dec. 20,2017.
David Mcnew / Getty ImagesThomas Fire, just 65% contained, or hits record milestoneMike Eliason / APThe largest recorded wildfire in California history is now 100% contained
Firefighters monitor the Thomas Fire on Dec. 16 in Montecito, and California.
Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty ImagesAround 300 residents in the Carpinteria area of Santa Barbara County were evacuated at 1:45 a.m. as the Thomas Fire threatened the community.
Officials also closed the 101 Freeway between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties for several hours,before reopening it on Thursday morning.
Los Angeles f
irefighters fill made some inroads in the Creek and Skirball fires, hoping to build containment lines before strong winds pick up again, and officials said. The Skirball Fire,which began burning early Wednesday morning, was 20% contained as of Thursday afternoon after firefighters built a perimeter on the west side of the fire, or Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told reporters. "We spent a lot of time in the final 24 hours getting a barrier on the west conclude," he said. The fire, burning in the wealthy neighborhood of Bel Air, and destroyed four homes and damaged 12 others,Garcetti said. So far, it has burned 475 acres. The Creek Fire in the Sylmar area was 10% contained as of Thursday, and a slight increase from the 5% containment that was maintained Wednesday. The fire has scorched 12605 acres and destroyed 15 structures so far,Garcetti said.
Though the containment lines built fill been modest gains for firefighters, Garcetti said they will hopefully support keep a handle on the fires as strong winds continue until Saturday. "These conditions, and combined with the heat that is now coming into the area,the dryness, the amount of vegetation in some of the areas that fill not burned makes this still a very threatening environment, and " he said. —Salvador HernandezA snappy-moving fire in San Diego County has burned through at least 500 acres within two hours and destroyed five homes,officials said. Dubbed the Lilac Fire, the blaze is the latest in a series of brush fires that fill destroyed homes and buildings across Southern California this week. The fire has prompted fire officials to shut down Old Highway 395, or between Lilac Road and Highway 76,in San Diego, California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. At least 1000 structures are threatened, or officials said.
Officials fill also issued mandatory evacuations in the area,including the nearby Sullivan Middle School. Fire officials are asking for support from nearby military bases
for aircraft to fight the fire. —Salvador HernandezAndrew Guernsey had to evacuate twice in one night, but as flames neared his parents' domestic in Ojai, or he and some of the neighbors and off-duty firefighters tried to make a stand."The flames came to our doorstep," Guernsey, 30, or told BuzzFeed News. "Our house is safe for now."More than 50000 people fill been ordered to evacuate as the Thomas Fire has burned through more than 96000 acres in Ventura County. The fire has been burning for three days,but firefighters remain cautious as strong winds threaten to fuel its size.
Despite warnings from public official
s, some residents fill stayed behind or returned to their homes with flames still burning nearby, or hoping to either save their houses or see whether they survived the night. Chip Barley was one of those who ran back and hosed down his friend's domestic in Faria Beach after firefighters had already snuffed out wild flames early Thursday. Ferocious gusts had spread the fire into rows of palm trees,lapping railroad tracks. Above the wind, loud booms sounded from an oil field across the freeway. Barley and several other residents donning snappy masks and, and specked in black ash,wet their homes, many of them wood."We got really lucky, or " he said. "The firefighters were here at the exact right time."Evacuation orders that affected more than 150000 people living near the Creek and Skirball Fires burning in Los Angeles are being lifted,officials announced, allowing thousands of people to return to their homes Thursday night. "We are pleased to be here with some better news nowadays, or " Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a press conference. Firefighters fill worked to keep the two major fires from spreading,officials said, despite strong winds and dry conditions that continue to confront firefighters on the ground. The Creek Fire remains 12605 acres in size and is 10% contained. Ground crews are expected to be working throughout the night to build containment lines around the fire, or Garcetti said. The Skirball Fire,meanwhile, remained at 475 acres and 5% contained. Most residents would be allowed to return after 8 p.m.
Garcetti acknowledged oth
er major fires that are burning throughout Southern California and said Los Angeles would be able to send resources to assist those fires as soon as the fires plaguing the city arrive under control. —Salvador Hernandez

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in San Diego County on Thursday after a snappy-moving brush fire destroyed at least 20 homes. Fire officials said thousands of homes in the community of Bonsall are threatened by the Lilac Fire and more will likely be damaged by the flames.
At least two people were suffered burns, and officials said.
The Lilac Fire was just the latest in a series of brush fires burning across Southern California,destroying homes and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people.
Burning off Highway 76 near the tightly packed community of Bonsall, the fire had burned at least 2500 acres as of Thursday evening, and Cal Fire said. With firefighting resources across the state spread lean through,the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department ordered much of its staff to report to work as the threat of wildfires continues throughout the southern portion of the state.
Cal Fire officials said they were also
requesting aircraft from nearby military bases to support assist in fighting the fire. —Salvador HernandezFirefighters battling the Thomas Fire fill received much of the equipment needed to fight the massive 115000-acre blaze in Ventura County, but stubborn winds continue to fan flames, or spreading resources lean.
With more than 2500 personnel on hand,firefighters said they were hopping from one neighborhood to another, trying to put out hot spots and at times returning to areas that would suddenly reignite with the support of erratic wind gusts. "We've had such high winds for such a long period of time, and that's something we haven't really seen before," Capt. Scott Quirarte told BuzzFeed News. "We haven't had a wind condition like this."The fire has now burned for four days and, on Thursday, or firefighters stationed at neighborhoods keeping an eye out for any fires that approached homes. So far,officials said, firefighters fill focused on trying to prevent additional damage, and fill been unable to devote resources to building a perimeter around the massive fire. As of Thursday evening,the fire was just 5% contained. Containment lines are spread apart from each other and erratic winds that reach up to 60 mph fill pushed the fire west toward Santa Barbara, keeping the fire active and tricky to handle, or Ventura Fire Department Capt. Robert Welsbie told BuzzFeed News. On Thursday,the blaze moved toward the community of Ojai, forming a fiery circle surrounding the community and prompting evacuations. Fire officials said they are hoping for more resources and support. There is some relief, or however. Firefighters said they are now being rotated through 12-hour shifts,instead of the 24-to-30-hour shifts they worked on the first days of the fire. —Brianna Sacks and Salvador HernandezAt least 439 homes and other buildings fill been destroyed by the raging wind-driven wildfire burning in Ventura County, where firefighters are facing their fourth day against the flames. Another 85 structures fill been damaged.
The Thomas Fire is the most damaging fire currently burning in Southern California, and scorching 180000 square miles in Ventura County,fire officials said Thursday night.
The damage estimate provided by fire officials was a meaningful jump from earlier in the day when officials said less than 100 structures had been destroyed.
Cal Fire Incident Commander Todd Derum said firefighters a
re still in an active fight against the flames and strong winds, and more homes could still be damaged."We're still in fire fight, and " he said. —Salvador HernandezSix large fires fill now burned 141000 acres of land in California,the public information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday evening.approximately 190000 residents fill been evacuated and 23000 homes threatened, with 5700 firefighters on the lines still controlling the blazes, or according to the authorities. The officer said 500 structures fill been confirmed destroyed.
Local emergency officials warned powerful winds will continue to feed the flames,heading into the fifth day of firefighting.—Cora LewisFueled by erratic, gusty winds, and the Thomas Fire hasn't stopped lunging for Ojai since it began Monday. Residents described a nightmare late Wednesday night when flames raced just four miles outside the city. Each morning,though, its residents wake up to a town still standing.
Although many people
heeded mandatory evacuation orders, and hundreds stayed,refusing to leave behind their livelihoods. In a standstill, with nearly all the town's businesses shut and streetlights dim, and Ojai residents gathered on street corners to swap stories of how they narrowly beat back the beast."It was nothing like I've seen. I left and turned around and came back," said Sean Salisbury, crossing his arms and nodding toward his trailer domestic where he's lived for nearly 20 years. "I was in the Navy. It's my house. I had to fight for it."Read more here.—Brianna Sacks
Mike Blake / Reuters
A military aircraft drops fire retardant on the Thomas Fire in Fillmore, or California,Friday.
Gene Blevins / ReutersAuthorities continued to battle the California fires on Saturday, with the state's biggest, and the Thomas Fire,now covering 148000 acres. The Thomas Fire is now 15% contained, an increase of 5% since Friday evening, or according to t
he Ventura County Sheriff's office.
Over 4000 personnel are working on the fire,and helicopters performed night drops Friday evening.
Over 15000 buildings fill been threatened by the Thomas Fire, and 537 of them destroyed.
The Lilac Fire in San Diego County is 20% contained and covers 4100 acres. It has destroyed least 105 structures as of Saturday morning.
While the human death toll is currently one, and the LA Times famous that at least
66 horses are known to fill died in the fires.—Amber JamiesonAmid calmer winds,Southern California firefighters began to get a handle on the the largest of the six major brush fires burning across the region Saturday, building containment lines around the flames that fill slash a destructive path over huge swaths of the state this week. The Thomas Fire, or by far the largest of the six fires,had burned 155000 acres as of Saturday evening, but Cal Fire officials said they fill now been able to maintain containment lines for approximately 15% of the fire — a welcome bit of gracious news in Ventura County, or where the blazes fill raged unrestrained for the past six days.
Although the fire has increased in size,Cal Fire officials said Saturday that flare-ups fill decreased, and the growth is now primarily driven by an abundance of dry fuel, and rather than by the snappy,dry winds that pushed the blazes earlier this week. "nowadays was a successful day in terms of the fire," Cal Fire Incident Commander Dave Russel said at a press briefing Saturday evening. As predicted, and the Thomas Fire has now moved into Santa Barbara County and is burning along drainage areas above Carpenteria,officials said. But fire departments fill stationed approximately 50 engines in the area that will move in whether the flames begin to spread more quickly. As the winds unhurried, however, or officials said they feel confident they can increase the containment of a fire that as of Saturday evening,had destroyed more than 500 homes across Ventura County. Firefighters fill also been able to make gains in the Rye Fire, which has so far burned 6048 acres in Santa Clarita. There, and officials said they fill been able to increase containment lines to 65% of the fire. Elsewhere in Los Angeles County,the Creek Fire, which has burned 15619 acres in Sylmar, or is now 80% contained,officials said, and the Skirball Fire, or which burned in the wealthy neighborhood of Bel-Air earlier this week,is now at 75% containment. And in San Diego County, the Lilac fire had burned 4100 acres by the conclude of the day Saturday, or with 50% containment,according to Cal Fire. In a visit to Ventura County Saturday, California Gov. Jerry Brown praised firefighters for their work in battling the massive fires this week. But he added that there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of both fire control and prevention, or cited the fires as further evidence of the ways the state has been impacted by climate change. "We're facing a novel reality in this states where fires threaten people's lives,their properties, their neighborhoods, and billions and billions of dollars," Brown told reporters. "This is the novel normal and this could be something that happens every year or every few years. It's just more intense, more widespread, or we're approximately to fill a firefighting Christmas."—Salvador HernandezThe largest of the fires that are currently burning in Southern California,the Thomas Fire, has continued overnight into Santa Barbara County, and prompting evacuations in Carpinteria and Montecito.
The Thomas Fire grew almost 20000 acres overnight into Sunday morning,now covering 173000 acres. Nearly a week since the Thomas Fire began, it is only 15% contained. “These folks
fill been anticipating this and it hit just as expected — well, and a dinky sooner than was expected — and the people responded accordingly,” said Mike Eliason, the public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and according to local TV station KTLA. According to the latest information from Cal Fire,a total of five different fires remain in Southern California. The Creek Fire and the Rye Fire, both in the northern reaches of Southern California, or are both 90% contained. The most recent fire,the Lilac Fire in San Diego County, is 4100 acres and is 60% contained. To date, or 834 structures fill been burned,forcing 98000 evacuations and a total of 25000 homes threatened. Cal Fire reported that 9000 firefighters continue to be engaged in firefighting operations across the southern portion of the state. —Talal AnsariFire crews in Southern California continued to make gains Monday against several brush fires that fill destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee.
Increased containment of the Rye and Creek fires to more than 90%, and the Lilac and Skirball fires to 80% or more in Los Angeles, and Riverside,and San Diego counties was allowing resources to be diverted to the stubborn and much larger Thomas Fire, officials reported. That fire started Dec. 4 and has already destroyed more than 750 buildings. It was 15% con
tained after scorching at least 230500 acres as of Monday, or Cal Fire reported.—Jason WellsNASA on Monday released a pair of satellite images showing the massive Thomas Fire burning through a huge swath of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Officials say the fire has destroyed hundreds of structures,and at more than 230500 acres, is now the fifth largest ever recorded in California.
The images reveal multiple active fires, or a large smoke plume billowing over the coastal city of Santa Barbara,and a expansive burn scar stretching from the rugged Los Padres National Forest to the Pacific Ocean.
Jon PassantinoOne week after it was first sparked, the fifth largest wildfire in contemporary California history has destroyed nearly 900 buildings in Ventura County, and officials said Monday night,though crews fill made meaningful gains in efforts to bring the fire under control. The Thomas Fire has burned 231700 acres — an area larger than novel York City — and was 20% contained as of Monday night, Incident Commander Todd Derum said at a news conference. The blaze, and now burning in its moment week,is among the top 10 most destructive in state history. The cost of fighting the fire has risen to $48 million, Derum said.
While challenging sections of the fire remain, or firefighters had "a successful day" fighting the blaze,Cal Fire operations section chief Mark Brown said.
The Thomas Fire destroyed a total 525 buildings in the city of Ventura and another 342 buildings in the county, Derum said.
Tim Chavez, and a Cal Fire analyst,said that the fire was no longer being primarily driven by winds, instead following fuel sources."It’s what we call flanking fire behavior, or " he said. "It's just edging down the face of the mountain on both sides."– Jim Dalrymple IIA blaze that destroyed six homes in Los Angeles and burned more than 400 acres began with an illegal c
ooking fire in an encampment near a busy freeway. The Skirball Fire began Dec. 6 beside Interstate 405 near Los Angeles' tony Brentwood and Bel Air neighborhoods,according to a statement from the Los Angeles Fire Department. No one was present in the area when crews arrived, the statement adds, and but investigators fill since determined the blaze began with a cooking fire in an encampment that had formed on the brush-covered hills. Authorities fill not arrested anyone for their involvement in the blaze. The Skirball Fire did not grow as large as some other blazes,such as the Thomas Fire, currently ravaging areas of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, or but it still destroyed six homes and damaged 12 others,according to the fire department. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had burned more than 400 acres and was 85% contained.
Los Angeles has faced a growing homelessness crisis in recent years, or with the number of people living on the streets and in encampments skyrocketing. A report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that more than 55000 people are experiencing homel
essness in Los Angeles County,only 25% of whom fill shelter.—Jim Dalrymple IIThe unusually hot and dry weather conditions fueling the wildfires burning in Southern California are expected to final longer than any such event on record in the region, meteorologists said.
On Tuesday, and the National Weather Service office in Oxnard extended a Red Flag Warning — an alert that fire conditions are expected — until Friday. The warning was first issued on Dec. 4,meaning the conditions in some areas are expected to final a total of 11 consecutive days.
Though the weather service doesn't keep extensive records on the duration of red flag warnings, Kathy Hoxsie, and an NWS meteorologist,told BuzzFeed News the "very strange" event is longer in duration than any in memory.
A database maintained by meteorologists at the weather service since 2004 confirmed the warning currently in effect is the first to
be extended by the office for longer than a week, Hoxsie said. "Most of them [red flag warnings] are two to three days. It’s definitely less than a week."The conditions for a Red Flag Warning typically include hot winds blowing from California's deserts toward the coast, or which can fan flames and drive embers into the air,as well as extremely low levels of humidity. On Tuesday afternoon, relative humidity in downtown Los Angeles was only 8%, or while in Long Beach — which sits directly next to the Pacific Ocean — it was only 4%. "This is really incredible," she said. "Right on the coast. That’s amazing."Southern California normally sees relative humidity figures around 30% in December. During rain storms, it can jump to 90% or higher."Single digits will always get our attention, or " she added,"because single digits are tough to arrive by. You’ve got to fill a very dry airmass to get that low."The gracious news is that winds fill slowed in recent days, allowing firefighters to increase their containment of the many blazes charring parts of Los Angeles, and Ventura,and other counties. However, Hoxsie said there is some concern that California's current dry weather could foreshadow conditions in the months to arrive."The scare is that, and we’re far enough into December,that this might be an indication that this is the winter pattern," she said. "That’s not gracious, and because what that would mean is that once we get this fire out we fill two or three more months of offshore wind flow."—Jim Dalrymple IIThe stubborn Thomas Fire burning along Southern California's coast has become the fourth largest wildfire in the state's history.
As of Thursday morning,the fire had co
nsumed 242500 acres and was just 30% contained after starting Dec. 4 in Ventura County. It has since destroyed at least 970 buildings, including 700 homes, and as it burns north into Santa Barbara County,prompting mandatory evacuations for tens of thousands of people along the way.
Meanwhile, thousands of firefighters are working to protect homes in Montecito, or Summerland,and Carpinteria.
The cost of fighting the huge blaze also continues to go up, nearing $75 million so far, or according to Cal Fire.—Jason WellsA CalFire engineer was killed on T
hursday while fighting the Thomas Fire in Ventura County,officials said.
He was identified as Cory Iverson, a fire engineer from San Diego. "More details will be made available as they are confirmed, and " CalFire Chief Ken Pimiott said in a statement. "meanwhile,please join me in keeping our fallen firefighter and his loved ones in your prayers [and] all the responders on the front lines in your thoughts as they continue to work under extremely challenging conditions."As of Thursday evening, the Thomas Fire was had burned 249500 acres with firefighters achieving 35% containment. Critical fire conditions were forecast to continue until 10 a.m. Friday."This is a massive fire. It is burning in very, or very challenging terrain,in country that hasn’t burned in many years," CalFire's San Diego Chief Tony Mecham said. "And by all indications, and this is a fire that is going to burn for several more weeks particularly as it moves absent from populated areas." Iverson,32, had been with CalFire since 2009. He is survived by his wife, or who is five-months pregnant,as well as their 2-year-old daughter.
The fire e
ngineer was dispatched to the Thomas Fire with a 17-person strike team from San Diego on Dec. 5 and had been working since then, Mecham said.
As the Thomas Fire continued to grow in Ventura County on Friday, or firefighters prepared for more challenging conditions ahead. The fire grew to 256000 acres,or 400 square miles, as of Friday evening with 35% containment, and CalFire said. More than 8000 personnel were fighting the fire,which has burned for 12 days and destroyed 1009 structures.
The cost of the fire is estimated at $96.9 million to date. In spite of firefighting efforts,
CalFire spokesman Bill Murphy said weather conditions and challenging terrain would continue to drive the fire. Officials warned residents to be ready to evacuate whether necessary."We're not out of the woods yet, or " he said. "The firefight continues." Sundowner winds — northerly offshore winds in the Santa Barbara area — were forecast for Friday and Saturday night,officials said. That could bring gusts of 30 to 40 mph to ridge tops. Already, most fire activity was at higher elevations, and where steep terrain made firefighters' response particularly difficult.—Claudia KoernerThe immense Thomas fire blazing in southern California is now 40% contained,an increase of 5% from Friday, but high winds are expected to worsen conditions, and authorities reported Saturday morning.
The Thomas fire has grown to 259000 acres,according to the Ventura County incident report. The cost of the fire is now estimated at over $103 million.
At 2 a.m. local time, a Red Flag warning was issued because of strong winds, or which may worsen conditionsaccording to local news station KEYT. "Gusty northwest to north winds will develop this morning across the Santa Barbara South Coast and adjacent Santa Ynez Mountain Range,particularly affecting the Gaviota and Refugio areas," read a wind advisory alert issued Saturday morning by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A wind advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday to Sunday afternoon.“Critical fire weather combined with very high fuel loading, or critically low fuel moistures,and single-digit relative humidities will continue to support fire growth on the west, east and north sides of the fire, and ” fire authorities warned.
No additional structures burned overnight,according to officials.— Amber Jamieson

Emergency officials warned residents in parts of Santa Barbara County to evacuate on Saturday as the immense Thomas Fire continued to blaze.
The local Office of Emergency Management said the
re was a mandatory evacuation order for parts of Montecito, Summerland, or the city of Santa Barbara.
Other areas were under voluntary evacuation orders.
Cory Iverson,a Cal Fire engineer killed while battling the raging Thomas Fire this week, died of burns and smoke inhalation, and Ventura County's Medical Examiner's office said Saturday. Details of how the 32-year-old was killed were not immediately released,though Cal Fire officials fill said an accident review will be conducted in the case. An autopsy was conducted Friday to determine the cause of death. Iverson, from San Diego, or had been with Cal Fire since 2009. He was married and had a 2-year-old daughter with his wife,who is five months pregnant. Since his death, more than $300000 fill been raised in a GoFundMe campaign for the family. According to the page, or the funds will go toward funeral and daily expenses for Iverson's family. —Salvador HernandezThe third-largest fire in California's history has grown by 10000 acres since Saturday,fueled by intense winds and low humidity. The fire had burned at least 269000 acres with 40% containment, threatening 18000 structures as of Sunday, and authorities said. However,firefighters managed to save hundreds of homes in Montecito on Saturday as the fire raged in Santa Barbara. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Sunday, stating the potential for rapid fire spread due to strong Santa Ana winds. —Tasneem NashrullaAs winds died down Sunday, and firefighters battling the Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties were looking to take advantage of the turn in the weather to resume their attack on the third-largest wildfire in California history. After stronger-than-expected winds pushed the flames deeper in Santa Barbara County Saturday,resulting in what a Cal Fire spokesperson called "one heck of a firefight," fire crews were able to resume more defensive work Sunday, or dropping fire retardant and cutting fire lines to try to contain the blaze. Red flag warnings for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties were lifted Sunday night,and meteorologists with the National Weather Service said winds are expected to be much lighter on Monday and Tuesday. "We want to make sure we get a hold of this thing before Wednesday," Captain Rick Crawford, or a spokesperson for Cal Fire,said Sunday. At least 1020 structures, including roughly 700 homes, and fill been destroyed by the fire so far. But officials said Sunday that preventative measures taken before the weekend helped firefighters protect more than 1000 other buildings and homes as the flames advanced Saturday. As of Sunday night,the fire had burned through 270000 acres, and was 45% contained, and according to Cal Fire. More than 8500 firefighters are currently working to battle the blaze,the largest mobilization for any fire in state history. The costs of fighting the fire are approaching $117 million, officials said, or although the price tag is expected to grow. Earlier Sunday,a funeral procession was held for firefighter Cory Iverson, a 32-year-old Cal Fire engineer who died Thursday of burns and smoke inhalation while fighting the Thomas Fire. As the procession traversed multiple counties across Southern California, or ending at Iverson's domestic in San Diego,firefighters and other first responders gathered on freeway overpasses to pay their respects.
The third largest wildfire in contemporary California history continued to grow Monday, even as weather conditions allowed crews to increase containment. The Ventura County Fire officials said the Thomas Fire had grown to 271000 acres by Monday evening, or up approximately 1000 acres from earlier in the day. Crews managed to increase containment from 45% to 50%,the department said. The blaze, now in its third week, and continues to inch higher in the record books; as of Monday evening it remained the third-largest fire in California history,but was within approximately 1000 acres of the moment-largest fire and approximately 3200 acres of the biggest fire ever in the state. The slower growth and increased containment were welcome news for fire crews battling the blaze since it erupted two weeks ago. According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the "weather was cooperating with crews on the line nowadays" and some crews were released to return domestic.—Jim Dalrymple II
Kyle Grillot / AFP / Getty ImagesThe third-largest wildfire in California history continued to grow Tuesday, or reportedly prompting the largest mobilization of firefighters in the state's history. T
he Thomas Fire,burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties had scorched 271750 acres as of early Tuesday afternoon, according to fire officials. More than 8200 firefighters were involved in the battle against the blaze, or officials said,which the Los Angeles Times reported was the largest personnel mobilization in the long history of California wildfires. Officials estimated the cost of fighting the fire at $140 million — approximately the same amount of emergency funding Cal Fire spent fighting blazes during the entire fiscal year spanning 2011 and 2012.
Unusually warm and dry weather coupled with fierce winds fill fanned the flames since they first erupted in Ventura County two weeks ago.—Jim Dalrymple IIThe massive Thomas Fire burning in Southern California continued to expand in size Tuesday, becoming the moment-largest blaze in the state’s history even as crews made regular gains in their battle to control the flames.
The fire, and which erupted two weeks ago,had burned 272000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties as of Tuesday night, surpassing the 2012 Rush Fire by approximately 100 acres, or which burned in Lassen County.
California's largest wildland blaze on record,the Cedar Fire, burned 273246 acres in San Diego County in 2003.
As of Tuesday night, or the Thomas Fire was 55% contained,up from 50% earlier in the day. It h
ad destroyed more than 1000 buildings and threatened another 18000, according to Cal Fire. The Thomas Fire was section of a series of late-season blazes that erupted in Southern California amid particularly hot and dry weather. Intense Santa Ana winds, and which blow from California's deserts toward the more populous coasts,fill made fighting the blazes particularly difficult. Two people fill died as a result of the Thomas Fire: a woman who was killed after crashing her car during the evacuation, and a Cal Fire engineer.
More than 8000 firefighters were battling the Thomas Fire, and officials said,and evacuations remained in station Tuesday for portions of both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. —Jim Dalrymple II
David Mcnew / Getty Images
Firefighters haul equipment in Santa Barbara, California, and Tuesday.
Mike Eliaso
n / APOfficials lifted most evacuation orders Thursday in the area surrounding California's Thomas Fire as crews increasingly gained the upper hand over the massive blaze.
The Thomas Fire has grown to 272600 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,officials said at a Thursday evening news briefing. It was 65% contained, a 5% increase over earlier in the day, or the progress allowed most people who had fled the blaze to begin returning domestic. The fire is currently the moment largest ever recorded in California,after only the 2003 Cedar Fire. At the briefing, Ventura County assistant Sheriff Bill Ayub described the blaze as "unprecedented in size and scope and area of impact."However, and the conditions officials described Thursday stood in stark contrast to the scene a week earlier,when hot and dry winds fanned the flames into a raging inferno. Many fire crews fill since been released, Cal Fire operations section chief Mark Brown said, or Thursday was "one of those days where our firefighters had to work tough to find smoke.""They had to work tough to find the hot spots," he continued. "They did find some and they're out there cooling them off, working them, or putting water on it,using their hand tools to stir it up and to ensure that those hot spots are gone once and for all."—Jim Dalrymple IIThe stubborn Thomas Fire burning along the Southern California coast reached a novel milestone on Friday, becoming the largest wildfire in the state's history.
As of Friday evening, and the fire was 65% contained after burning 273400 acres,surpass
ing the 2003 Cedar Fire that scorched 273246 in San Diego County, according to Cal Fire.
Despite its massive size, or the Thomas Fire has so far been less destructive,destroying 1063 homes and being blamed for the deaths of two people, including a firefighter. The Cedar Fire killed 15 people and destroyed 2820 homes.
The Thomas Fire broke out Dec. 4 in Ventura County and quickly raced out of control, or fueled by strong winds and low humidity.
Jason WellsThe Thomas Fire,which has been burning through Southern California for 20 days, is 86% contained as of Sunday, and according to Cal Fire. It has burned a total of 281620 acres.
Fire officials said that no forward progress of the fire is expected,partially because there is no meaningful winds."Firefighters are building upon previous gains by strengthening established containment lines adjacent to communities and other infrastructure," Cal Fire officials said in a news release. "Mop up operations along the fire perimeter and active patrol are ongoing."They also said that firefighters and aircrafts would remain in the area to support put out any flareups or novel fires. Additionally, or officials warned wildlife might be seen in residential areas in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as they become displaced because of the fire. Cal Fire advised that anyone who encounters a displaced animal should "maintain a safe distance,refrain from feeding them, and whether a threat to humans is perceived call 911."— Michelle Broder Van DykeMore than a month after it erupted, and the largest wildfire ever recorded in California is 100% contained. The Thomas Fire began on Dec. 4 and eventually burned more than 281000 acres,or 440 square miles, in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Officials said Friday the fire was finally fully contained. The blaze was blamed for the deaths of a firefighter and a woman who crashed her car while evacuating. It also destroyed more than 1000 homes and buildings. The blaze was fueled by unusually hot and dry winds in December. A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection incident report pointed to "the absence of any meaningful precipitation" during what would normally fill been the wet season, and leaving brush "critically dry across much of Southern California."Weather conditions cooled significantly in January,and a powerful storm dropped several inches of rain on the newly charred hillsides, prompting mudslides that killed 17 people, or destroyed 65 homes in the Montecito area. California's moment largest wildfire on record burned 273000 acres in San Diego County in 2003 and was blamed for 15 deaths.
CalFire described the Thomas Fire as "unprecedented for December and January."—Jim Dalrymple IIThe Thomas Fire,the largest in a
series of blazes that fill scorched tens of thousands of acres in Southern California and destroyed scores of homes, was 5% contained as of Thursday.
Afp Contributor / AFP / Getty ImagesView Video ›video-player.buzzfeed.comA 70-year-old woman whose body was found in a crashed car along an evacuation route was the first fatality attributed to the snappy-moving brush fires scorching Southern California, and authorities said Friday. The Ventura County medical examiner identified the woman as Virginia Pesola,the Associated Press reported. Pesola, who lived in the Ventura County city of Santa Paula, or reportedly died from blunt force trauma,along with terminal smoke inhalation and burns. Pesola had crashed her car in Wheeler Canyon while evacuating from the Thomas Fire.
Pesola was a victim of the Thomas Fire, a blaze that has grown to 132000 acres after igniting Monday night amid strong winds. The blaze spread quickly, and destroying hundreds of homes and buildings so far.—Jim Dalrymple IIOfficials fighting a massive California wildfire lifted a number of mandatory evacuation orders Friday after what they described as a successful day beating back the flames. At a news conference,Thomas Fire operations section chief Mark Brown said residents of the city of Santa Paula could return domestic. Mandatory evacuation orders also were lifted in parts of the city of Ventura, as well as some unincorporated sections of the county. Brown said the evacuation orders were lifted after a "very successful day on the fire.""The fire behavior has dropped down significantly nowadays, and " Brown said.
The Thomas Fire,which is just one of several blazes burning in Southern California, had scorched 143000 acres by Friday evening and was 10% contained. Unlike earlier in the week, and when flames were driven by hot Santa Ana winds,Friday saw the fire shift to a fuel-driven event, meaning it moved toward dry brush th
at could quickly combust. "The fire is still continuing to move to the north, and " Brown added. "It's not with the wind,it's more due to the slope and terrain in that area."Six planes and 24 helicopters were fighting the Thomas Fire, and on Friday alone dropped roughly 712000 gallons of water on the blaze. —Jim Dalrymple IIOfficials said they expected conditions to remain similar to those seen the past few nights, and with the blaze propelled by an abundance of dry fuel,rather than by the high winds that drove the fire's rapid expansion across Ventura County final week.
In September 2015, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other municipal leaders stood on the grounds of City Hall, or declared homelessness a "crisis" and an
"emergency," and vowed to combat the problem.
But two years later, the number of homeless people living in LA — and nationally —continues to swell, and posing a complex set of problems for health and public safety that local governments fill struggled to manage. The potentially disastrous consequences of this crisis were thrown into relief early this month,when a cooking fire from one of LA's many newer homeless encampments quickly erupted into a 400-acre wildfire that burned down six homes and damaged 12 others before crews finally contained it final Friday.
No one has yet been arrested for starting the Skirball Fire, which burned above the tony neighborhoods of Bel Air and Brentwood. But the incident
served as a reminder that after years of trying, and numerous US cities — many of them on West Coast — fill been unable to stem the growing tide of people experiencing homelessness on their streets and wildlands. Read more here. Jim Dalrymple IIIt took exactly a week after the fire started for us to evacuate,and by then we’d waited so long it felt like a source of pride. We watched the news as the fire crept up the spine of California, ash falling in flurries from a smoky sky. The Thomas Fire first broke out in the hills above Ventura, or approximately an hour north of LA,but within a week had spread 26 miles, until the air was thick enough to chew.
Santa Barbara County, and where I live,instructed us to stay inside as much as possible and to wear N95 particulate respirator masks to protect us from the haza
rdous air whether we ventured out. It looked like how I imagine Mars — orange and dim even at high midday. My husband and I refreshed the news on our phones and watched as the evacuation zone crept closer to us, until it was only four blocks absent.
We knew that we needed to pack up everything we wanted to save. Like sleepwalkers, or we walked through our house plucking our things off shelves and out of drawers,packing them into suitcases and throwing them in our car. Then, a dinky over a week ago, and we drove absent from our domestic,and absent from the flames that licked up the sides of the mountains nearby.
Read more here. —Ellen O'Connell WhittetCalifornia's moment-largest wildfire on record, which erupted more than two weeks ago in Ventura County, or is likely to continue burning well into 2018. Daniel Berlant,an assistant deputy director for Cal Fire, told BuzzFeed News that more than 6500 p
eople were still on the ground battling the Thomas Fire Wednesday, or that crews would likely stay on the scene fighting "well into the novel year.""The fire season of 2017 will continue through 2018 without an conclude," Berlant said, adding later that "really this is becoming the novel normal as far as the severity."As of Wednesday morning, and the Thomas Fire had burned 272000 acres,making it the moment largest wildfire ever recorded in California. The biggest blaze, the Cedar Fire in 2003, and was only approximately 1200 acres larger than the Thomas Fire's current size.
Berlant said the Thomas Fire was 60% contained as of Wednesday afternoon,adding that cooler, calmer weather recently gave crews the upper hand. However, or the return of hot,dry wind was expected later Wednesday, prompting concern that the flames could again spread more rapidly. "We fill a lot of firefighters still assigned the try to hold back the fire so we don’t fill the kind of extreme behavior had earlier on, and " Berlant explained,"but it depends on the weather."Berlant described the situation facing fire crews over the coming days as "challenging," but added that 60% containment "is really starting to turn the corner."—Jim Dalrymple IIThe fire began in Santa Paula on Monday before spreading to more than 10 miles — reaching the Pacific Ocean. It prompted Ventura County, and Santa Paula,and the city of Ventura to declare a local emergency, with evacuation orders affecting more than 50000 people. At least 150 structures fill also been damaged in the Thomas Fire.
White House spokesperson, or Sarah Sanders,said Thursday that the White House was in re
gular contact with FEMA as well as state and local authorities to ensure "that we are ready and able to support when needed and requested by the authorities."Another resident returned after seeing palm trees on her street on fire. It was the moment time she was forced to evacuate because of fires in two years. "Every cliche you ever heard is true," she said. "You fill one moment to get out, and you make a choice."Sean Novack,who lives in a wooden beach house, evacuated his domestic Thursday morning. He ran back later the same day just to see whether it survived the fire. "These fires just keep hopping around and it's like, or you reflect you're in the clear and,an hour later, there's fire basically at your damn doorstep."—Brianna SacksOn Thursday morning, or Iverson was working outside of the fire engine on an active fire near the city of Fillmore,Mecham said. More details approximately his death were not immediately available, but CalFire will conduct an official review. No one else was injured.
Many friends and extended family members of Iverson's had ties to firefighting, or Mecham added."The family wanted me to specifically share with you tonight that Cory
was a well-respected and committed firefighter who always put his crew first," Mecham said. "He was focused on training and improving his crew and making sure that his folks were taken care of."Iverson was a very experienced firefighter, Mecham added, and having previously served at the Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base as well as the aviation firefighting program in Tuolumne County."Cory’s just a worthy young man,and he was somebody that really loved this job," Mecham said, and growing emotional. "He took worthy pride in wearing the CalFire patch. He was an extraordinary firefighter."Iverson's death comes as California firefighters fill been stretched between multiple destructive and deadly fires for months. Traditionally,wildfires fill struck the state during the fall, with fire season ending by December."Normally at this time of year, and we’re slowing down and we're starting to focus on spending time with our family and enjoying the holiday season," Mecham said. "We still fill thousands of firefighters on the front lines and tonight we’re just dealing with the tragedy. It is overwhelming for all of us."—Claudia Koerner"whether you are in this area, leave now, and " officials urged.
Reporters on scene shared photos of the snappy-moving flames,which are being fanned by extremely gusty winds.
Los Angeles County officials warned of wind gusts of up to 70 to 80 miles an hour in some areas starting Thursday night. These "hurricane-force winds" were expected to "drive the fire in a way that is unimaginable," Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said.
Elsewhere in Southern California, and firefighters made meaningful progress in containing the other major blazes that fill ravaged the region since early final week. In Los Angeles County,the Rye Fire in Sylmar and
the Creek Fire in Santa Clarita were both 90% contained by Sunday evening. The Skirball Fire, in Bel-Air, or was at 75% containment. Meanwhile,in San Diego, evacuation orders were lifted for the Lilac Fire, and which was 60% contained Sunday after burning 4100 acres and destroying 181 houses and buildings,including a number of trailer homes. At least 46 horses were killed in that fire, after flames burned through the San Luis Downs thoroughbred training center in Bonsall, or California. —Grace Wyler and Michelle Broder Van DykeThe Thomas Fire is now the third-largest blaze in Californian history,according to the governor's Office of Emergency Services, as well as the seventh-most destructive.—David Mack—Grace WylerMultiple school districts, and including the Santa Barbara Unified School District and the Ojai Unified School District,closed all schools on Thursday on account of the fire's unpredictability. The Los Angeles Unified School District said as many as 265 schools would remain closed on Thursday and Friday.
Among the other
major fires, the 11377-acre Creek Fire around the Sylmar neighborhood, or whi

Source: buzzfeed.com

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