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

[margarita25]

Bahahahaha :floorlaugh: Oh hell, Margs, thank you for that laugh, just what I needed. I think that is my favorite post ever.

I saw this on Facebook the other day and just went back for it. This wasn't you was it, margarita?

(Omgggg Ana! :floorlaugh: )

 

[FindHG]

'Monster' Thomas fire in Southern California now 50 percent contained
By M.L. Nestle, ABC News
Dec 18, 2017, 9:53 PM ET with an earlier video report about the fire, procession and more.

The fire only needs to consume a couple thousand more acres to dethrone the 2003 Cedar fire that maintains top spot on the list.
...
The Ventura County Fire Department said Monday evening that the fire is now 50 percent contained after having so far burned 271,000 acres.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Bahahahaha :floorlaugh: Oh hell, Margs, thank you for that laugh, just what I needed. I think that is my favorite post ever.

I saw this on Facebook the other day and just went back for it. This wasn't you was it, margarita?

hahaha! My son is a zoo keeper and someone brought in a coyote pup. They said their wife brought it home and wanted to keep the "puppy". :giggle:

 

[DakotaMayi]

hahaha! My son is a zoo keeper and someone brought in a coyote pup. They said their wife brought it home and wanted to keep the "puppy". :giggle:

OMG :lol:

 

[Betty P]

Bahahahaha :floorlaugh: Oh hell, Margs, thank you for that laugh, just what I needed. I think that is my favorite post ever.

I saw this on Facebook the other day and just went back for it. This wasn't you was it, margarita?

Oh, heck no! :scared:

The look on that coyote's face! Slowly walk to the door and open it, then hope the coyote leaves..

 

[Spellbound]

No recent updates? Is it calming down yet?

 

[DakotaMayi]

No recent updates? Is it calming down yet?

I am not near enough to CA to know & my friend who lives there (Calabasas) is now not in the area to know much BUT, based on this article, I'd say no :

The Thomas fire is now the second largest in modern California history

After a brief respite from the relentless gusts that have driven the deadly Thomas fire for more than two weeks, powerful winds are expected to return, adding to the challenges facing firefighters working to contain the mammoth blaze.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-thomas-fire-winds-return-20171219-story.html

 

[DakotaMayi]

Sacramento Bee:

Is living in a disaster zone now part of the California package? Wildfires show our risk


http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article190676819.html

 

[Spellbound]

Thank you, AnaPisces. I was sure it wasn’t a lot better, but am hearing nothing on the news channels.

I hope all in the area can enjoy their Christmas season. Be stay safe, but also find moments to celebrate, however you choose to do so.

 

[Hraefn]

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1922

Acres Burned - Containment: 272,000 acres - 60% contained

Slowly but surely this beast is being more contained.
http://www.calfire.ca.gov/general/firemaps
Looking at the updated perimeter, it appears firefighters are doing a great job keeping the fire out of heavily residential areas but it is still crushing to see the National Forest burning away.

 

[charminglane]

There are increasing winds tonight into tomorrow, so there is cause for worry.
On the bright side, it could rain a bit!

Crossing fingers, toes, and eyes that all will be well tonight.

 

[coastal]

Thomas fire within 500 acres of becoming California's largest wildfire on record

DEC 22, 2017 | 11:00 AM
| VENTURA

http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-thomas-fire-size-20171222-20171222-story.html

>>>snip

...As of Friday morning, the blaze was 65% contained after burning 272,800 acres, eclipsed only by the 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego County, which burned 273,246 acres...

..."Today is one of those days where our firefighters had to work hard to find smoke" and hot spots, said Mark Brown, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, on Thursday evening...

...Despite its size, the Thomas fire has been less destructive than either the wine country fires or the Cedar fire, which destroyed 2,820 structures and killed 15 people. The Thomas fire has destroyed more than 1,000 structures and has been associated with one death...

(article continues)

<<<snip

Sounds like firefighters are making steady progress up there! I heard on the radio (KFI, Los Angeles) this morning that authorities expect the Thomas fire to be 100% "contained" by the first of the year. That seems like an awfully long time out to me! I had never even heard of "containing" a fire before the Cedar fire, and I am still just flabbergasted by the very idea. I mean, if it's on fire, you put it out, right? But infernos like these are truly forces of nature, on the same scale as hurricanes and earthquakes and hundred-year floods. Seen in that light, containment is rather a miracle.

Sending love and light to my friends in harm's way. Be careful, and stay safe!

 

[shana]

Thomas fire becomes largest wildfire on record in California

I so hoped it would not.

Thank you, Coastal! Clicking on your link brought me to this update. From the link above:

The Thomas fire on Friday became California&#8217;s largest wildfire on record, burning 273,400 acres.

The fire eclipsed 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego County, which burned 273,246 acres and was until today the largest on record.

 

[shana]

I heard on the radio (KFI, Los Angeles) this morning that authorities expect the Thomas fire to be 100% "contained" by the first of the year. That seems like an awfully long time out to me! I had never even heard of "containing" a fire before the Cedar fire, and I am still just flabbergasted by the very idea. I mean, if it's on fire, you put it out, right? But infernos like these are truly forces of nature, on the same scale as hurricanes and earthquakes and hundred-year floods. Seen in that light, containment is rather a miracle.

Sending love and light to my friends in harm's way. Be careful, and stay safe!

Thank you again, coastal, for your love, light, and support!

I remember when, on the 4th of July in 2007, we were told that the Zaca Fire would be out by Labor Day (it wasn't). Containment doesn't mean totally extinguished. Right now the Thomas Fire is still burning in the back country but fortunately the weather allowed lines to be set on the front and they held thru the wind event overnight Wednesday. Mop-up continues.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread and expressed concern!

(We had to 'leave now' on Saturday morning, our Voluntary zone declared Mandatory, but we are back now. So very grateful to the firefighters, the whole crew! They saved not only lives but our homes as well.)

 

[margarita25]

Thomas Fire is the largest blaze in modern California history
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...he-largest-blaze-in-modern-california-history

"The latest

&#8226; Long-awaited rain: The fire area has not received any rainfall over .10 inches since February, Cal Fire said. No rain is expected in the next weeks.

&#8226; Hefty price tag: About $110 million has been spent fighting the massive blaze, fire officials said. This year has been the costliest for wildfires in US history. Damages have topped $10 billion, and that was before the current fires began in Southern California.

&#8226; Size: The Thomas Fire has burned an area larger than New York City, Washington, DC, and San Francisco combined -- and larger than any city in California except Los Angeles.

&#8226; Casualties: One firefighter has been killed since the Thomas Fire began. Cory Iverson, from the San Diego unit of Cal Fire, was killed on December 14."

 

[coastal]

A

Christmas Miracle:

http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-thomas-fire-christmas-20171225-story.html
DEC 25, 2017 | 5:10 PM

>>>snip

...The fire is mostly contained now and is not expected to grow...
...crews from 19 states joined California firefighters, with about 9,000 people assigned to the fire since it first broke out. Most firefighters have been called home...

(article continues)

<<<snip

And:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/state/california/fires/article191538524.html

>>>snip

...Crews fighting the Thomas Fire on Christmas Eve had the blaze 86 percent contained as they continued to battle what became the largest wildfire in modern California history Friday...

...As of Sunday evening, the fire had grown to 281,620 acres, adding roughly 8,000 acres to its previous total. The containment figure was revised upward from a previously published estimage (sic) of 70 percent, which Cal Fire said was &#8220;posted incorrectly (Saturday) due to a typo...&#8221;

(article continues)

<<<snip

Merry Christmas!

 

[crhedBngr]

A

Christmas Miracle:

http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-thomas-fire-christmas-20171225-story.html
DEC 25, 2017 | 5:10 PM

>>>snip

...The fire is mostly contained now and is not expected to grow...
...crews from 19 states joined California firefighters, with about 9,000 people assigned to the fire since it first broke out. Most firefighters have been called home...

(article continues)

<<<snip

And:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/state/california/fires/article191538524.html

>>>snip

...Crews fighting the Thomas Fire on Christmas Eve had the blaze 86 percent contained as they continued to battle what became the largest wildfire in modern California history Friday...

...As of Sunday evening, the fire had grown to 281,620 acres, adding roughly 8,000 acres to its previous total. The containment figure was revised upward from a previously published estimage (sic) of 70 percent, which Cal Fire said was &#8220;posted incorrectly (Saturday) due to a typo...&#8221;

(article continues)

<<<snip

Merry Christmas!

Catching up after having been out of State - I'm thankful they have this thing contained.

Happy Holidays to all of you!

 

[DakotaMayi]

Well, we said goodbye to our CA friends the other day as they had back to CA for Christmas. It's always sad to see them go again but so happy to see them safe and well after all this worry.

I hope things are improving for you all, I am just getting caught up after not being able to get online in the Christmas craziness but I'm thinking of you all whether I'm online or offline.

Again, thanks for the updates everyone. :heartbeat:

 

[DakotaMayi]

The New Year is fast approaching (or has already approached, AUS etc...) ... how are we all? Sending love and good vibes to all affected for a better, less suckier 2018.

 

[Hraefn]

#ThomasFire [update] north of Santa Paula (Ventura and Santa Barbara County) per US Forest Service - Los Padres National Forest remains 281,893 acres and 92% contained.

http://www.calfire.ca.gov/general/firemaps