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California Thomas wildfire still threatens thousands of homes California Thomas wildfire still threatens thousands of homes
(about 4 hours later)
The Thomas fire, the 11-day-old and fourth-largest wildfire in California history, continued to grow and threaten thousands of homes on Saturday, despite the efforts of armies of fire crews and fleets of bulldozers and aircraft. The massive wildfire that California has been battling since early December has become the third-largest in the state’s history and burned a record amount of acreage, officials said on Saturday.
Santa Ana winds fanning the flames north-west of Los Angeles eased on Friday but they were expected to return strongly over the weekend. The fire is so large that winds on one end of it may be gustier than those on the other side. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority said the Thomas fire, which started on 4 December in Santa Paula, has now burned 2,000 acres more than the devastating Rim Fire of 2013.
The fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has devoured 400 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) of brush and timber and burned more than 1,000 buildings, including more than 750 homes. Another 18,000 buildings are still in jeopardy, including mansions in the wealthy enclave of Montecito. “As of this morning, we’re at 259,000 acres and still growing,” Concialdi said.
The fire was only 35% surrounded by Friday night, despite ongoing efforts by some 8,000 firefighters, 32 helicopters and 78 bulldozers. The region has had “red flag” or hot, dry and windy conditions for an unprecedented 13 consecutive days. The National Weather Service (NWS) said those conditions would last at least through Saturday evening, with winds gusting to 40mph in the Santa Barbara County mountains where the fire is burning.
Everything about the fire is massive, from a footprint larger than that of many cities to the sheer scale of destruction that has cremated entire neighborhoods to the legions attacking it. About 8,300 firefighters from nearly a dozen states have been aided by 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters dropping thousands of gallons of water. Firefighting costs are approaching $89m.
The fire surging through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has burned more than 1,000 buildings, including more than 750 homes. Another 18,000 buildings are still in jeopardy, including mansions in the wealthy enclave of Montecito.
Some 315 fire engines are stationed in and around homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara, along with “hand crews” armed with equipment like chain saws and drop torches. Another 200 fire engines are on standby. Concialdi said authorities were hoping to have the blaze contained by 7 January.
Santa Barbara has had only a tiny amount of rain since 1 October, the start of the new water year, and is more than 3in (7.6cm) below normal to date.Santa Barbara has had only a tiny amount of rain since 1 October, the start of the new water year, and is more than 3in (7.6cm) below normal to date.
Another focus of firefighting was on the eastern flank of the blaze, in canyons where a state firefighter was killed on Thursday near the agricultural town of Fillmore. Officials have released no details on the death of 32-year-old Cory Iverson. Another focus of firefighting is on the eastern flank of the Thomas blaze, in canyons where a state firefighter was killed on Thursday near the agricultural town of Fillmore. Officials have released no details on the death of 32-year-old Cory Iverson, but it was a stunning blow to those fighting the flames.
The National Weather Service forecast extreme fire danger or “red flag” conditions through at least Saturday evening, with winds gusting to 40mph in the Santa Barbara County mountains where the fire is burning. “When that happened, this fire hit a whole new level because all the firefighters know that could have been them,” Concialdi said. “When you lose a fellow brother, that hits all of us and our families extremely hard.”
Firefighters were facing northerly “sundowner” winds through the night, that could turn into north-easterly Santa Ana winds, driving the flames in another direction.
Everything about the fire was massive, from a footprint larger than that of many cities to the sheer scale of destruction that cremated entire neighborhoods. Firefighting costs were approaching $89m.