Thomas fire, the largest of six blazes burning in southern California, has destroyed almost 800 buildings and remains only 15% contained

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

California’s biggest wildfire continues to burn out of control, triggering fresh evacuations as firefighters battle a total of six blazes that collectively have scorched an area bigger than New York City and Boston combined.

The week-old Thomas fire in Ventura County had covered 230,500 acres by Monday, destroying almost 800 buildings and threatening Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and other coastal enclaves north of Los Angeles. It is the fifth-biggest wildfire in California’s modern history – and only 15% contained.

Strong desert winds known as Santa Anas which have fanned the flames were expected to ease overnight but steep canyons and parched vegetation were acting as tinder. No rain is forecast for the next 10 days.

“The winds are kind of squirrely right now,” county fire spokesman Mike Eliason told the Associated Press. “Some places the smoke is going straight up in the air, and others it’s blowing sideways. Depends on what canyon we’re in.”

'It was an inferno': southern Californians left dumbstruck by week of wildfire hell Read more

More than 200,000 people have fled their homes since the wildfires flared last week, devastating swathes of landscape. Despite apocalyptic-looking scenes only one person is confirmed to have died – Virginia Pesola, 70, whose car crashed as she tried to evacuate.

Play Video 1:52 Why are California’s wildfires so out of control? – video explainer

The winds and low humidity prompted the National Weather Service to extend a red flag warning for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties to Monday evening.

Firefighters made steady progress against fires in Los Angeles county, including one in the plush neighbourhood of Bel-Air which singed but did not seriously damage a winery owned by Rupert Murdoch. Hundreds of schools which closed last week because of ash and smoke across LA have re-opened.

Further south firefighters also gained control over a fire in San Diego county which scorched 4,100 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures along highway 76.

Last week it swept through the San Luis Rey Downs training center, killing dozens of thoroughbred race horses and destroyed more than 100 homes – most of them in a retirement community. Three people were hurt trying to flee.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A house is seen as the growing Thomas fire advances toward Santa Barbara County. Strong desert winds have fanned the flames. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images

The Thomas fire, named after the Thomas Aquinas College near where it broke out, is by far the biggest and has forced 88,000 people to flee. It caused electricity outages as it ripped through foothills around Santa Barbara, a picturesque town popular with tourists and wine-lovers. Even residents not under evacuation orders took the chance to leave, fearing another shutdown of a key coastal highway.

Officials handed out masks to those who stayed behind in Montecito, an exclusive community within Santa Barbara home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and Drew Barrymore.

Actor Rob Lowe wore a mask as he live-streamed his family evacuating Sunday from their smoke-shrouded home.

“Praying for the people in my area,” he said to his Instagram followers. “Hope everybody’s getting out safe like we are, and thanks for the prayers and thoughts. And good luck to the firefighters, we need you!”

Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted that neighbors were helping each other and their animals get to safety, adding: “I’m sending lots of love and gratitude to the fire department and sheriffs. Thank you all.”

Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) Everyone in the Montecito area is checking up on each other and helping to get people and animals to safety. I’m proud to be a part of this community. I’m sending lots of love and gratitude to the fire department and sheriffs. Thank you all. #ThomasFire

Plumes of smoke have extended more than 1,000 miles into the Pacific.



“We’re about ready to have firefighting at Christmas,” California’s governor, Jerry Brown, said over the weekend during a visit to Ventura. Traditionally the state’s fire season ends in November but climate change may make the ferocity of this month’s blazes a recurring phenomenon, said Brown, a Democrat.

“This is the new normal,” he said.

High fire risk is expected to last into January.

CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) Latest CA Wildfire Stats:

Fires: 5

Acres: 200,000

Structures: 834

Firefighters: 9,000

Evacuations: 98,000

Homes threatened: 25,000



Video: @EliasonMike pic.twitter.com/atREHv34PM

Heavy rains last winter and spring ended a record-busting drought but there has been meagre rain in the past six months, leaving chaparral and woodland extremely dry.

Washington state, which borders Canada, has also recorded unusual heat. A weather balloon on Monday recorded its warmest temp for this time of year of 61F, the National Weather Service in Seattle tweeted. “Air mass as dry as Arizona.”

A family that lost its home to the Creek Fire north of Los Angeles told KCAL9 News it was grateful to be alive. “For me, it was like my 15 years of living here was flashing by – of memories, you know, the gatherings, all that,” said Javier Hernandez. “And then at the same time, we were like, ‘OK, my family’s OK. If it’s gonna burn, it’s gonna burn.’”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.