As Winds Rise Once More, Firefighters Fear 'Flare-Up' In Massive Thomas Blaze

Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Carlson/AP Chris Carlson/AP

For the past few days, the weather in Southern California granted firefighters a rare reprieve. Winds dropped, humidity ticked up a tad — and for a brief span, at least, firefighters had a little natural help reining in the massive Thomas Fire northwest of Los Angeles, which they had 60 percent contained by Wednesday morning.

But that lull didn't last long.

The strong winds and low humidity that helped fan the blaze into California's second-largest wildfire on record are returning. In certain areas, winds are expected to reach 15 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.

And experts fear the fire's dangerously erratic behavior will return with them.

"There is potential for a flare-up," Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the local weather service, tells The Los Angeles Times.

Enlarge this image toggle caption David McNew/Getty Images David McNew/Getty Images

That is far from good news for residents who have been facing down the angry orange glow of the blaze since it took hold Dec. 4. In the more than two weeks since then, the Thomas Fire has been blamed for two deaths, destroyed at least 750 homes and burned roughly 272,000 acres — or a span larger than all of New York City and Boston combined. Before the fire is finally contained, it is expected to pass the 2003 Cedar Fire as the largest since Cal Fire began keeping such records in 1932.

Member station KPCC reports that "more than 8,000 firefighters from nearly a dozen states" have been gathered to battle the blaze.

NBC and The Associated Press note that while the sprawling Thomas Fire is creeping toward a rather notorious perch in history books, it is far from alone. In fact, the blaze is part of an increasing trend: