CA - Wind-Driven Thomas Fire Explodes to 31,000 Acres; 150 Structures Destroyed, 2017

[mistivon]

oh god it's so bad. new fire in Los Alamos. preparing to evac the SB zoo. heading that way now. I'll ck in later but its just constant n getting worse. so much smoke hope everyone is safe

 

[DakotaMayi]

Thank you, AnaPisces! All is well here in San Diego.

San Diego Weather Report: Currently 65 degrees; partly cloudy/ mostly sunny; humidity 68% (YES!);UV Index 2 of 10.

It's beautiful here today! I actually felt a few sprinkles early this morning, but those low clouds/ marine layer burned off quickly. There is a lovely, light, occasional breeze, and the terrible dryness is much improved. The cat

is no longer plagued by static electricity-charged fur, and my friend who has asthma is breathing easier.

Lilac fire (Old Hwy 395 at Dulun Road, Bonsal)l 100% contained; Burned 4100 acres

God Bless our Firefighters! We heart you!!

Thoughts and prayers continue for my neighbors to the north. Hugs to you all!

Glad to hear the improving updates, Coastal! :loveyou:

My friend in CA whose family got caught up in the cross fire will be visiting us up here this upcoming week before she heads back down for Christmas. I hadn't thought she would still make it with everything as it is but happily, I was wrong. I look forward to seeing her and her family - I've been in constant worry mode!!

It just never seems to end though. I'm sending love across the miles to you all and hoping for more positive updates soon :heartbeat:

 

[LaborDayRN]

oh god it's so bad. new fire in Los Alamos. preparing to evac the SB zoo. heading that way now. I'll ck in later but its just constant n getting worse. so much smoke hope everyone is safe

Oh no! That's one of my favorite zoos! (speaking as the mother of a zoo keeper / educator. I've been to a lot of zoos!) I hope they get all the animals and staff out safely! This fire is a nightmare!

 

[FindHG]

oh god it's so bad. new fire in Los Alamos. preparing to evac the SB zoo. heading that way now. I'll ck in later but its just constant n getting worse. so much smoke hope everyone is safe

take care and be safe, mistivon. I can't believe the winds...
this is live, from afar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZYp5Kx8Cx8

Glad to hear the improving updates, Coastal! :loveyou:

My friend in CA whose family got caught up in the cross fire will be visiting us up here this upcoming week before she heads back down for Christmas. I hadn't thought she would still make it with everything as it is but happily, I was wrong. I look forward to seeing her and her family - I've been in constant worry mode!!

It just never seems to end though. I'm sending love across the miles to you all and hoping for more positive updates soon :heartbeat:

Thank you, AnaPisces! All is well here in San Diego.

San Diego Weather Report: Currently 65 degrees; partly cloudy/ mostly sunny; humidity 68% (YES!);UV Index 2 of 10.

It's beautiful here today! I actually felt a few sprinkles early this morning, but those low clouds/ marine layer burned off quickly. There is a lovely, light, occasional breeze, and the terrible dryness is much improved. The cat

is no longer plagued by static electricity-charged fur, and my

Thank you for taking the time. Good to know! I hope IQ is doing okay.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Here's another live video above Santa Barbara.
http://abc7.com/live/23340/

 

[Spellbound]

AI6YR Live Stream - Thomas Fire - Fire Command Channel

[video=youtube;E_IDVtkf8m4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_IDVtkf8m4&sns=em[/video]

 

[margarita25]

Hundreds of homes in Montecito threatened as winds push Thomas fire toward coast; new evacuations

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-thomas-fire-ledeall-20171216-story.html

 

[margarita25]

Thomas Fire now third-largest wildfire in modern California history
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/us/california-fires/index.html

"Thousands of additional residents were evacuated Saturday from areas near the Thomas Fire, now the third-largest wildfire in modern California history.

Fueled by high winds, the massive fire north of Ventura continued growing Saturday. It had burned 267,500 acres by Saturday evening, Cal Fire said. That's up from 256,000 acres on Friday."

 

[margarita25]

"Twelve thousand additional people were being evacuated Saturday from areas near the blaze in Santa Barbara County, said the county Sheriff's Office spokesman Brian Olmstead. Meanwhile, mandatory evacuations in Ventura County -- where the fire began-- were lifted Saturday.

Red-flag warnings are in effect for a large swathe of Southern California through late Sunday, with wind gusts of up to 55 mph expected overnight, according to CNN meteorologist Gene Norman.

Strong winds and dry conditions are expected fuel the blaze and increase the chance for new fires. On Saturday, a new fire near Lompoc, known as the Drum Fire, broke out, according to Cal Fire. As of Saturday afternoon it was about 30 acres, Norman said."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/us/california-fires/index.html

 

[margarita25]

Thomas Fire Spreads Rapidly to Santa Barbara County
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/thomas-fire-santa-barbara.html

 

[margarita25]

Los Angeles Times

Thomas fire could become largest on record in California
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-thomas-fire-historical-20171215-story.html

 

[margarita25]

Los Angeles Times
California adopts stronger fire safety rules for utilities
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fire-utility-rules-20171216-story.html

********

Thousands flee as wildfire 'beast' grows to California's third-largest
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ws-to-californias-third-largest-idUSKBN1EA097

"VENTURA, Calif. (Reuters) - A raging California wildfire powered by fierce winds grew into the third-largest in state history on Saturday as forced evacuations turned neighborhoods into ghost towns and ash fell in some areas like heavy snow."

 

[margarita25]

“"It is a beast,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department Division Chief Martin Johnson told a news conference.

“But we will kill it,” he said.

Nearly 8,500 personnel using nearly 1,000 engines and 32 helicopters were battling the blaze, which was 40 percent contained on Saturday evening. It has become the seventh-most destructive in state history, officials said."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ws-to-californias-third-largest-idUSKBN1EA097

 

[margarita25]

The vast landscape charred by the blaze, centered fewer than 100 miles (160 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, reached 267,500 acres (108,253 hectares) late on Saturday. The largest wildfire in state history was the 2003 Cedar blaze in San Diego County that consumed 273,246 acres and caused 15 deaths.

"The hot Santa Ana winds have propelled the fire’s expansion, at times sending embers far ahead of its main flank. They were forecast to gust at up to 50 mph (80 kph) on Sunday with critical fire conditions remaining through Monday, National Weather Service forecasters said."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ws-to-californias-third-largest-idUSKBN1EA097

 

[margarita25]

"Conditions not expected to improve this weekend

High winds and dry conditions continue to hamper efforts to contain the Thomas Fire, with few signs of improvement heading into the weekend, according to CNN meteorologists. The conditions are expected to help any fires spread quickly.


By Friday morning, the fire had grown to 252,500 acres and it was 35% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Santa Ana winds will continue into Saturday and Sunday, said Rich Thompson with the National Weather Service. A fire weather watch is in effect through the weekend, and winds are expected to reach up to 30 mph on mountain ridgetops."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/14/us/california-fires/index.html

 

[margarita25]

"Winds will again kick up and become strong, raising the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires in Northern and Southern California this weekend as firefighters continue to battle the Thomas Fire, which is now the third largest in the state's history.

The fire danger will increase as multiple blazes continue to burn in the state. The deadly*Thomas Fire*is now the third largest in California's history.

According to InciWeb, the blaze has burned a total of 259,000 acres and was 40 percent contained as of Saturday morning. The top two fires in California's history each charred more than 270,000 acres; one occurred in August 2012, the other in October 2003.

Hundreds of structures have already burned, and more are at risk in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and other communities."

Thomas Fire becomes third largest in California’s history as firefighters face strong winds this weekend
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...f-california-firestorms-this-weekend/70003572

 

[margarita25]

"During this weekend, north to northeasterly winds may become strong enough to break tree limbs and down power lines. Any sparks or burning embers from existing fires may initiate new blazes.

"Residents living in wind-prone areas across both Northern and Southern California need to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

Northern California will first feel the wind build into Saturday night.

At peak, gusts frequenting 40 to 60 mph are likely. The highest gusts will be over some of the ridges and through the passes.

"In Southern California, the surge of northerly winds will begin around sunset on Saturday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark. "On Sunday, winds are likely to gradually shift to the northeast.""

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...f-california-firestorms-this-weekend/70003572

 

[margarita25]

"In addition to the threat from rapidly spreading wildfires will be areas of smoke, blowing dust and difficulty for high-profile vehicles when encountering strong crosswinds.

Downtown Los Angeles will be somewhat sheltered from the strong winds, as is usually the case."

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...f-california-firestorms-this-weekend/70003572

 

[margarita25]

(This is terrible! Prayers and hugs to all the websleuthers out there and your families! Please be safe!! Our thoughts are with you!!!

:grouphug: )

 

[FindHG]

Magz, thank you for all the updates. Keep thinking what it must've been like up in North Cal, seeing this "beast" go on and on. It's been mentioned more than once by fire officials that their experience up North informed their approach to these So Cal fires. It seems incredible and super human to me that they've been able to push back and fight it as they have, so far. Even though Nature keeps on one upping it with the winds and lack of moisture, the firefighting crews, air crews, all the responders and volunteers, all the effort and cooperation just seems to keep going, and adapting impressively, somehow, it seems to me.

Spellz, the livestream you posted, listened to it until midnight! It was great! Fascinating, very informative and then some. Thank you so much for finding it and sharing it. How do you do that?