The Thomas Fire burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has now consumed 230,500 acres, according to Ventura County Fire Department officials Monday morning, up from 173,000 a day earlier.
The fire is now larger than San Francisco, and the fifth-largest recorded in California.
Containment was upgraded to 15 percent Monday morning from 10 percent Sunday night.
More than 100,000 people remain under evacuation orders. 644 single-family residences have been destroyed, with another 167 damaged. There have been 138 other minor structures destroyed, and another 20 damaged. A dozen commercial structures have burned. The fire still threatens 18,000 structures.
No firefighter or civilian injuries have been reported.
Severe fire weather will continue to promote significant fire growth further into Santa Barbara County, threatening the communities of Montecito and Summerland.
Gusty Santa Ana wind will continue to push the fire to the west while very low fuel moisture, high temperatures and single-digit relative humidity will support fire growth to the west and north sides.
Extreme fire behavior will continue to hamper control efforts. Firefighters will remain engaged in structure defense operations and scout for opportunities to establish direct perimeter control.
Gusty northeast wind will cause the fire to threaten areas of the city of Santa Barbara. The fire will continue to threaten the communities of Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and surrounding areas. Evacuation operations will occur ahead of western fire growth.
Contingency groups will work to establish contingency line in Santa Barbara County in the areas of Windy Point, Camino Cielo and Foothills. Identification of potential control features in the north and east will continue.
Nearly 6,400 firefighters, 856 engines, 48 water tenders, 27 helicopters, 67 bulldozers, 113 hand crews and other resources from Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties as well as nine neighboring states are battling the Thomas Fire, which broke out near Santa Paula Monday night, December 4.
See the complete list of Ventura County evacuations [here].
See the complete list of Santa Barbara County evacuations and road closures [here].
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2 Comments
Jessica Campbell
I know ? it’s so sad.