This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42303203
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| California's Thomas Fire scorches area larger than New York City | California's Thomas Fire scorches area larger than New York City |
| (2 days later) | |
| The most destructive wildfire raging in southern California has expanded significantly, scorching an area larger than New York City. | The most destructive wildfire raging in southern California has expanded significantly, scorching an area larger than New York City. |
| The Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has consumed 230,000 acres (930 sq km) in the past week. | The Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has consumed 230,000 acres (930 sq km) in the past week. |
| Fanned by strong winds, it has become the fifth largest wildfire in recorded state history after it grew by more than 50,000 acres in a day. | Fanned by strong winds, it has become the fifth largest wildfire in recorded state history after it grew by more than 50,000 acres in a day. |
| Residents in coastal beach communities have been ordered to leave. | Residents in coastal beach communities have been ordered to leave. |
| On Sunday, firefighters reported that 15% of the blaze had been contained but were forced to downgrade that to 10% as it continued to spread. | On Sunday, firefighters reported that 15% of the blaze had been contained but were forced to downgrade that to 10% as it continued to spread. |
| "This is a menacing fire, certainly, but we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. | "This is a menacing fire, certainly, but we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. |
| Thousands of firefighters are working round the clock to tackle the blaze, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. | Thousands of firefighters are working round the clock to tackle the blaze, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. |
| The containment operation is not only being hampered by dry winds. It is proving challenging for firefighters because of the location and mountainous terrain. | The containment operation is not only being hampered by dry winds. It is proving challenging for firefighters because of the location and mountainous terrain. |
| An analyst with the California fire protection department, Tim Chavez, said the emergency services were struggling because "a hot interior" was in parts practically meeting the ocean, making access difficult. | An analyst with the California fire protection department, Tim Chavez, said the emergency services were struggling because "a hot interior" was in parts practically meeting the ocean, making access difficult. |
| "It's just a very difficult place to fight fire," Mr Chavez said, adding: "It's very dangerous and has a historical record of multiple fatalities occurring over the years." | "It's just a very difficult place to fight fire," Mr Chavez said, adding: "It's very dangerous and has a historical record of multiple fatalities occurring over the years." |
| The other fires hitting California are largely controlled, but 200,000 people have evacuated their homes and some 800 buildings have been destroyed since 4 December. | The other fires hitting California are largely controlled, but 200,000 people have evacuated their homes and some 800 buildings have been destroyed since 4 December. |
| Evacuation orders were issued overnight on Sunday for parts of Carpinteria close to Los Padres National Forest, about 100 miles (160km) northwest of Los Angeles. | Evacuation orders were issued overnight on Sunday for parts of Carpinteria close to Los Padres National Forest, about 100 miles (160km) northwest of Los Angeles. |
| Forecasters said wind speeds were expected to increase throughout the day, before dying down again overnight. | Forecasters said wind speeds were expected to increase throughout the day, before dying down again overnight. |
| The local fire department tweeted pictures of a wall of flames advancing on homes on the outskirts of Carpinteria early on Sunday morning. | The local fire department tweeted pictures of a wall of flames advancing on homes on the outskirts of Carpinteria early on Sunday morning. |
| A member of the emergency services in Carpinteria said he would continue working alongside his colleagues until the fire was under complete control. | A member of the emergency services in Carpinteria said he would continue working alongside his colleagues until the fire was under complete control. |
| "What they did last night was amazing," firefighter Michael Gallagher said, adding: "They saved this entire community. | "What they did last night was amazing," firefighter Michael Gallagher said, adding: "They saved this entire community. |
| "We've been up, I'm at 29 hours straight, every other day... we are exhausted, but they're not coming off until this is done." | "We've been up, I'm at 29 hours straight, every other day... we are exhausted, but they're not coming off until this is done." |
| Meanwhile, actor Rob Lowe, who lives in Santa Barbara, a city of close to 100,000 people, tweeted that he was praying for his town as fires closed in. | Meanwhile, actor Rob Lowe, who lives in Santa Barbara, a city of close to 100,000 people, tweeted that he was praying for his town as fires closed in. |
| "Firefighters making brave stands. Could go either way. Packing to evacuate now," Lowe added. | "Firefighters making brave stands. Could go either way. Packing to evacuate now," Lowe added. |
| California has spent the past seven days battling wildfires. Six large blazes, and other smaller ones, erupted on Monday night in southern California. | California has spent the past seven days battling wildfires. Six large blazes, and other smaller ones, erupted on Monday night in southern California. |
| The Thomas Fire - named according to where it started, near the Thomas Aquinas College - is by far the largest of the fires. | The Thomas Fire - named according to where it started, near the Thomas Aquinas College - is by far the largest of the fires. |
| They swept through tens of thousands of acres in a matter of hours, driven by extreme weather, including low humidity, high winds and parched ground. | They swept through tens of thousands of acres in a matter of hours, driven by extreme weather, including low humidity, high winds and parched ground. |
| The authorities issued a purple alert - the highest level warning - amid what it called "extremely critical fire weather", while US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency. | The authorities issued a purple alert - the highest level warning - amid what it called "extremely critical fire weather", while US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency. |
| On Saturday, California Governor Jerry Brown described the situation as "the new normal" and predicted vast fires, fuelled by climate change, "could happen every year or every few years". | On Saturday, California Governor Jerry Brown described the situation as "the new normal" and predicted vast fires, fuelled by climate change, "could happen every year or every few years". |
| Several firefighters have been injured, but only one person has died - a 70-year-old woman who was found dead in her car on an evacuation route. | Several firefighters have been injured, but only one person has died - a 70-year-old woman who was found dead in her car on an evacuation route. |
| There are also fears the blaze will seriously hit California's multi-million dollar agricultural industry. | There are also fears the blaze will seriously hit California's multi-million dollar agricultural industry. |