Ventura - Firefighters hope gain
further control on Tuesday of a wildfire, the fifth-largest in
California's history, as relentless wind gusts and bone-dry
weather conditions are expected to persist.
The blaze, known as the Thomas Fire, which has burned
231 700 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties about 100
miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, grew but at a slower
pace, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire)
said.
But strong wind gusts of up to 40 mph (65 kph) and extremely
low humidity that are expected through Thursday will continue to
pose a challenge to firefighting efforts, the National Weather
Service said.
"That combination of winds and very low relative humidity
leads to critical fire conditions and can allow for a potential
of significant fire growth and fire behaviour," National Weather
Service incident meteorologist Rich Thompson said at a community
meeting on the fire on Monday evening.
Read more:
About 7 000 firefighters were battling the blaze that has
destroyed about 800 structures including more than 680 homes,
Cal Fire said.
Dry vegetation that has not burned in 50 years are acting as
fuel for the fire in the mountains southeast of Santa Barbara
and northwest of Ventura, spokesperson Ian McDonald said.
"Because the slopes are so steep and the terrain is so
rocky, it is actually quite dangerous," he said. "We are not
going to put firefighters in harm's way half way up a steep
rocky slope. We are going to wait for the fire comes to us and
extinguish it where it is safe."
Also read:
Public schools in Santa Barbara and some school systems
nearby have cancelled classes this week and will not reconvene
until the annual winter break is completed in January, said
Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider.
Some of the other fires burning over the past week in San
Diego and Los Angeles counties have been largely controlled by
the thousands of firefighters on the ground.
The Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were both at
least 90 percent contained, officials said, while the Skirball
Fire in the posh Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles was 85
percent contained.
North of San Diego, the 4100-acre (1,660 hectare) Lilac
Fire was also 90 percent contained on Monday, after destroying
151 structures.