Growing wildfire threatens 600 homes north of Los AngelesStoryful
An explosive wildfire, whipped up by ferocious winds, is raging out of control across a large area of Southern California. The Thomas Fire broke out on Monday evening (4 December) east of Santa Paula, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. At time of reporting, it had covered more than 70 square miles (181 square kilometres) and destroyed at least 150 structures. More than 27,000 people have been evacuated and one firefighter was injured.
Red hot embers are blown from a tree shortly before it fell near burnt-out cars as strong winds push the Thomas Fire across thousands of acres near Santa Paula, CaliforniaDavid McNew/Reuters
After initial reports of a fatality, county fire captain Steve Kaufmann said a dead dog was found in an overturned car, but no person.
Fierce Santa Ana winds are whipping up the inferno, pushing it towards Santa Paula, a city of some 30,000 people, prompting evacuation orders that were later expanded to houses in Ventura, which has 106,000 residents. "The fire growth is just absolutely exponential," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said. "All that firefighters can do when we have winds like this is get out ahead, evacuate people, and protect structures." Nearly 180,000 customers in the Ventura county area are without power, Southern California Edison said on Twitter.
The latest photos – by David McNew, Mike Blake and Gene Blevin for Reuters and Ringo Chiu for AFP – show homes going up in flames in Santa Paula and Ventura, while burnt-out remains of cars line roads. Downtown streets are illuminated only by the eerie orange glow that fills the sky as the flames approach.
An orange glow fills the sky as the Thomas Fire rages out of control near Santa PaulaDavid McNew/ReutersDowntown Santa Paula, hit by a power cut, is illuminated only by the glow of the Thomas FireDavid McNew/ReutersThe Thomas Fire consumes a structure near Santa PaulaDavid McNew/ReutersA home near Santa Paula is consumed by the Thomas FireDavid McNew/ReutersA home burns as the Thomas Fire rages near Santa PaulaDavid McNew/ReutersThe burnt-out remains of crashed cars litter a country road near Santa PaulaDavid McNew/ReutersThe burned remains of a crashed vehicle on a country road near Santa PaulaDavid McNew/ReutersA firefighter battles a wildfire as it burns along a hillside near homes in Santa PaulaRingo Chiu/AFPFirefighters battle a blaze on a hillside near homes in Santa PaulaRingo Chiu/AFPSparks fly as a firefighter tackles a wildfire on a hillside near homes in Santa PaulaRingo Chiu/AFPA woman evacuates her home in Santa Paula as a wildfire burns along a nearby hillsideRingo Chiu/AFPA man prepares to evacuate his home in Santa Paula as a wildfire burns along a nearby hillsideRingo Chiu/AFP
A firefighter fights a blaze approaching the backyard of a home in VenturaMike Blake/ReutersThe wind-whipped Thomas fire destroys a home in Ventura, southern CaliforniaMike Blake/ReutersA building in Ventura is gutted by the Thomas fireMike Blake/ReutersAs daylight breaks, Ventura policemen rush to check a home in a neighbourhood affected by the fireMike Blake/ReutersEmergency crews block a road as the Santa Ana winds whip up the Thomas Fire near VenturaGene Blevins/ReutersPalm trees catch fire as Santa Ana winds drive the Thomas Fire towards VenturaGene Blevins/ReutersFirefighters battle the Thomas Fire as it sweeps through dry vegetation near VenturaGene Blevins/ReutersA basketball hoop is silhouetted against the orange glow as firefighters battle flames in Santa PaulaGene Blevins/ReutersA property in Santa Paula is consumed by the infernoGene Blevins/ReutersA man uses a hose pipe in an attempt to protect his home as firefighters battle a wildfire in Santa PaulaRingo Chiu/AFPStrong Santa Ana winds spread the fire across a road in Santa PaulaGene Blevins/Reuters
The fires are being driven by Southern California's notorious gusty and dry Santa Ana winds, which have been linked to some of the region's worst wildfires.
Typical of autumn, the Santa Anas are spawned by high pressure over the Great Basin that sends air flowing toward Southern California where it speeds up as it squeezes down through mountain passes and canyons and blows out toward the coast.
There is no relief in sight, as wind gusts of up to 70mph (115kph) are expected to remain in the area along with low humidity through the week, according to a US National Weather Service forecast.
