California wildfire rages toward scenic coastal communities
Peggy Scissons
A massive California wildfire that has already destroyed nearly 800 structures scorched another 56   000 acres on Sunday   making it the fifth largest such blaze in recorded state history   as it ran toward picturesque coastal cities . But fire officials said as darkness fell that with the hot   dry Santa Ana winds not as fierce as expected   crews had been successful in building some fire lines between the flames and the towns of Montecito and Carpinteria . “ This is a menacing fire   certainly   but we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control  ” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told an evening press conference . Still   some 5   000 residents remained under evacuation orders in the two communities   near Santa Barbara and about 100 miles ( 160 km ) northwest of Los Angeles . Some 15   000 homes were considered threatened . The Thomas Fire   the worst of six major blazes in Southern California in the last week and already the fifth largest in the state since 1932   has blackened 230   000 acres ( 570   000 hectares )  more than the area of New York City . It has destroyed 790 houses   outbuildings and other structures and left 90   000 homes and businesses without power . The combination of Santa Ana winds and rugged terrain in the mountains that run through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have hampered firefighting efforts   and officials said the Thomas Fire was only 10 percent contained on Sunday evening   down from 15 percent earlier in the day . But wind gusts recorded at 35 - 40 miles per hour were less than those predicted by forecasters   giving crews a chance to slow the flames ’ progress down slopes above the endangered communities . The fires burning across Southern California have forced the evacuation of more 200   000 people and destroyed some 1   000 structures . Among them are residents of Montecito   one of the state ’ s wealthiest enclave and home to such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey . Emmy Leikin   an Emmy - winning songwriter who was ordered to evacuate her Montecito home at 9 a . m . on Sunday   said she fled with only her cell phone   medication   eyeglasses and a few apples . Leikin   74   said she doesn ’ t know the condition of her home and belongings but “ none of that means anything when it is your safety .” Firefighters knock down flames as they advance on homes atop Shepherd Mesa Road in Carpinteria   California   U . S . December 10   2017 . REUTERS / Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department / Handout via REUTERS WORST IN A DECADE The fires that began last Monday night collectively amounted to one of the worst conflagrations across Southern California in the last decade . They have   however   been far less deadly than the blazes in Northern California ’ s wine country in October that killed over 40 . In the last week   only one death has been reported   a 70 - year - old woman who died Wednesday in a car accident as she attempted to flee the flames in Ventura County . Scores of horses have died   including at least 46 at a thoroughbred training facility in San Diego county . Residents and firefighters alike have been alarmed by the speed with which the fires spread   reaching into the heart of cities like Ventura . Slideshow ( 9 Images ) At the Ventura County Fairgrounds   evacuees slept in makeshift beds while rescued horses were sheltered in stables .  Peggy Scissons   78    arrived at the shelter with  her  dog last Wednesday   after residents of  her  mobile home park were forced to leave .  She  has not yet found out whether  her  home is standing . “ I don ’ t know what ’ s gonna happen next or whether I ’ ll be able to go home  ”  she  said . “ It would be one thing if I were 40 or 50   but I ‘ m 78 . What the heck do I do ?” James Brown   57   who retired from Washington State ’ s forestry service and has lived in Ventura for a year   was forced to leave his house along with his wife last week because both have breathing problems . “ We knew a fire was coming   but we didn ’ t know it would be this bad  ” said Brown   who is in a wheelchair . Some of the other fires   in San Diego and Los Angeles counties   have been largely controlled by the thousands of firefighters on the ground this week . Both the Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were 90 percent contained by Sunday morning   officials said   while the Skirball Fire in Los Angeles ’ posh Bel Air neighborhood was 75 percent contained . North of San Diego   the 4   100 - acre ( 1   660 hectare ) Lilac Fire was 75 percent contained by Sunday and most evacuation orders had been lifted .
A massive California wildfire that has already destroyed nearly 800 structures scorched another 56   000 acres on Sunday   making it the fifth largest such blaze in recorded state history   as it ran toward picturesque coastal cities . But fire officials said as darkness fell that with the hot   dry Santa Ana winds not as fierce as expected   crews had been successful in building some fire lines between the flames and the towns of Montecito and Carpinteria . “ This is a menacing fire   certainly   but we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control  ” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told an evening press conference . Still   some 5   000 residents remained under evacuation orders in the two communities   near Santa Barbara and about 100 miles ( 160 km ) northwest of Los Angeles . Some 15   000 homes were considered threatened . The Thomas Fire   the worst of six major blazes in Southern California in the last week and already the fifth largest in the state since 1932   has blackened 230   000 acres ( 570   000 hectares )  more than the area of New York City . It has destroyed 790 houses   outbuildings and other structures and left 90   000 homes and businesses without power . The combination of Santa Ana winds and rugged terrain in the mountains that run through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have hampered firefighting efforts   and officials said the Thomas Fire was only 10 percent contained on Sunday evening   down from 15 percent earlier in the day . But wind gusts recorded at 35 - 40 miles per hour were less than those predicted by forecasters   giving crews a chance to slow the flames ’ progress down slopes above the endangered communities . The fires burning across Southern California have forced the evacuation of more 200   000 people and destroyed some 1   000 structures . Among them are residents of Montecito   one of the state ’ s wealthiest enclave and home to such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey . Emmy Leikin   an Emmy - winning songwriter who was ordered to evacuate her Montecito home at 9 a . m . on Sunday   said she fled with only her cell phone   medication   eyeglasses and a few apples . Leikin   74   said she doesn ’ t know the condition of her home and belongings but “ none of that means anything when it is your safety .” Firefighters knock down flames as they advance on homes atop Shepherd Mesa Road in Carpinteria   California   U . S . December 10   2017 . REUTERS / Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department / Handout via REUTERS WORST IN A DECADE The fires that began last Monday night collectively amounted to one of the worst conflagrations across Southern California in the last decade . They have   however   been far less deadly than the blazes in Northern California ’ s wine country in October that killed over 40 . In the last week   only one death has been reported   a 70 - year - old woman who died Wednesday in a car accident as she attempted to flee the flames in Ventura County . Scores of horses have died   including at least 46 at a thoroughbred training facility in San Diego county . Residents and firefighters alike have been alarmed by the speed with which the fires spread   reaching into the heart of cities like Ventura . Slideshow ( 9 Images ) At the Ventura County Fairgrounds   evacuees slept in makeshift beds while rescued horses were sheltered in stables .  [TGT]arrived at the shelter with  [TGT]  dog last Wednesday   after residents of  [TGT]  mobile home park were forced to leave .  [TGT]  has not yet found out whether  [TGT]  home is standing . “ I don ’ t know what ’ s gonna happen next or whether I ’ ll be able to go home  ”  [TGT]  said . “ It would be one thing if I were 40 or 50   but I ‘ m 78 . What the heck do I do ?” James Brown   57   who retired from Washington State ’ s forestry service and has lived in Ventura for a year   was forced to leave his house along with his wife last week because both have breathing problems . “ We knew a fire was coming   but we didn ’ t know it would be this bad  ” said Brown   who is in a wheelchair . Some of the other fires   in San Diego and Los Angeles counties   have been largely controlled by the thousands of firefighters on the ground this week . Both the Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were 90 percent contained by Sunday morning   officials said   while the Skirball Fire in Los Angeles ’ posh Bel Air neighborhood was 75 percent contained . North of San Diego   the 4   100 - acre ( 1   660 hectare ) Lilac Fire was 75 percent contained by Sunday and most evacuation orders had been lifted .