California's Thomas Fire has continued to rage, displacing tens of thousands of people after scorching over 700 homes. The state governor has linked multiple wildfires this year to climate change.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Carlson
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Thomas Fire blazes Southern California
Thomas Fire, the third-largest wildfire in California's history, has burned 267,500 acres in two weeks. Nearly 8,500 firefighters are battling the blaze, which has destroyed more than 1,000 structures.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/M. Eliason
Thomas Fire engulfing southern California
Since December 4, the so-called Thomas Fire has consumed more than 394 square miles (1,020 sq. kilometers) of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties of Southern California. The blaze is named after Thomas Aquinas College, where the fire reportedly first ignited.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/M. Eliason
Mass evacuation
On Saturday, more evacuation orders were given to residents of Santa Barbara County, including Montecito, a town located at northwest of Los Angeles. Nearly 100,000 people were forced to evacuate as fire trucks were stationed at every home in a bid to save those who were left behind.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Beck
Firefighters in full force
About 8,500 firefighters, who have 34 helicopters in support, are fighting the Thomas Fire. The blaze has grown into the fourth largest wildfire in California since 1932.
Image: picture-alliance/Zuma/P. Kuroda
Burning down homes
Combined with low humidity and strong winds, the Thomas Fire has burned 921 buildings — including at least 700 homes since it began. It also threatens 18,000 buildings, including the wealthy celebrity enclave of Montecito in Santa Barbara County where Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and other celebrities have residences.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/M. Eliason
Saving structures
Nick Rizzo, a Napa City Firefighter, pulls a hose up a steep hill to protect structures from the Thomas Fire in Montecito, California on Saturday. The fire has shut down roads, driven thousands from their homes and forced many schools to be closed.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Beck
Fire extinguishing
A firefighter attempts to save a home in Montecito on Saturday douses flames around a house. The property around it is scorched after winds picked up and pushed the fire west. The fire has so far killed one firefighter named Cory Iverson, 32, who died on Thursday while battling the flames near the Ventura County community of Fillmore.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Beck
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A furious wildfire that California has been battling for two weeks became the third largest in state history on Saturday, as renewed wind gusts and dry air fueled the spread of the blaze.
The so-called Thomas Fire has burned more than 1,000 structures, including 750 homes since December 4. It has spread across an area of 259,000 acres (104,800 hectares) about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Saturday. The cause of the fire is unknown.
The raging wildfire has cost emergency services more $100 million (€85 million) to battle, and involved about 8,500 firefighters from multiple states, 78 bulldozers and 29 helicopters. One firefighter has died.
Only 40 percent of the Thomas Fire has been contained.
Since the wildfire started, more than 95,000 people have been mandatorily evacuated, including several parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura.
On Saturday authorities ordered the mandatory evacuation of Summerland and Montecito, an elite area where several stars including Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres have mansions.
This year's wildfires have been one of the most destructive to hit California in modern times.
Climate change wake up call
California Governor Jerry Brown said the scale of wildfires hitting the state should be a wake up call for people to respond to climate change.
"The important fact is that these fires are going to become a very frequent occurrence. That's what the science is telling us," Brown said. "It's a real indicator of bad things to come, and hopefully will serve to wake up people who right now are too complacent."
The reflection of a natural disaster
The Thomas Fire is causing lots of damage in California. Even the Instagram aesthetics of these pictures can't hide that.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
30 percent contained
Almost two weeks after the Thomas Fire started to spread, firefighters are finally making some progress. However, they warn that the fire will continue to spread westward as it consumes parched brush.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
Huge damage
Since the blaze broke out on December 4, it has destroyed at least 920 buildings including 700 homes. It has prompted the evacuation of about 100,000 people — making the Thomas Fire the fifth-largest wildfire in California history.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
Among the largest fires
Accurate records of wildfires have been kept since 1932. According to these documents, the Rush Fire (2012) has been the largest fire yet. It affected an area of 1,277 sq km (493 sq mi). The Cedar Fire (2003) comes in second. It's the largest ever wildfire caused by human activity, burning over 1,134 sq km (438 sq mi). The current Thomas Fire is number five, with an area of 965 sq km (372 sq mi).
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F.J. Brown
"Perfect" conditions
Climate experts say that an extreme drought and the strong Santa Ana winds are speeding up the fires in southern California. It is unusually dry in the coastal region for this time of year.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
How it started
The fire got its name from the place where it was first reported. In this case, the Thomas Aquinas College north of Santa Paula. During the night, the small brush fire exploded in size and raced through the rugged mountain terrain to the west.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
Health issues
Air quality warnings have been issued for many areas due to dangerous levels of smoke and particulates as a result of the fire. While the alerts are in effect, authorities recommend people stay indoors, avoid driving in affected areas and drink plenty of fluids. Typically moist onshore winds that occur in the evening are bringing smoke inland.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
Wide-ranging support
California firefighters get plenty of support from strike teams from different US states. Ten teams came from Oregon alone. Firefighters from Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, and Utah are also on the ground.
Image: Reuters/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/M. Eliason
