Several fast-growing brush fires are blowing through Southern California, and thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes.
A home is destroyed by brush fire as Santa Ana winds help propel the flames to move quickly through the landscape in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The largest brush fire started Monday in Ventura County, and it has not been able to be contained.
A mansion burns as a brush fire continues to threaten homes in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The Ventura County Fire Department Public Information Office on Monday tweeted: “Fires are breaking out across the so. Cal. Region… Be fire safe. Firefighters are working very hard to minimize damage to property. Evacuations are taking place in many places in Southern California.”
Wildfires (Twitter)
Hawaiian Gardens apartment complex on fire as brush fires move quickly with Santa Ana winds in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The brush fire that started in Ventura, being called the Thomas Fire, was burning at nearly an acre per second, CNN reported – it would have covered New York City’s Central Park in about 15 minutes.
Remnants of a burned down a home as a brush fire continues to threaten other homes in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
By this afternoon, the fire had grown to 78 square miles in 19 hours, it was reported.
John Bain and Brandon Baker take cover from the embers as they try to help stop a fire from burning a stranger’s home in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The Thomas Fire is the largest of the brush fires that are being driven so rapidly by powerful winds.
Remnants of a burned down a home as a brush fire continues to threaten other homes in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
CNN reported that about 27,000 people were forced to evacuate, as the fire could spread further into the city, fire officials warned.
John Bain and Brandon Baker take cover from the embers as they try to help stop a fire from burning a stranger’s home in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The State of California has declared an emergency for Ventura County.
Al Galileo helps water down a backyard of a stranger’s home as brush fire encroaches on the property in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office wrote online that the fire is still “out of control.”
Locator map of wildfires in California.
There are currently two other fires that are burning in Los Angeles County – the Creek Fire, about 11,000 acres now; and the Rye Fire, about 5,000 acres. And, there are two smaller fires in San Bernardino County.
