Update 7:52 a.m. EST — The Thomas Fire has spread to an alarming 31,000 acres, destroying 150 structures and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate. As resources get maxed out, following are the areas where houses were impacted by the fire:

- Homes on fire near 2275 Hillcrest Drive in Ventura.

- Homes threatened near Monita Drive in Ventura.

- Fire is expected to impact the east side of Santa Paula.

- Losing homes on Colina Vista in Ventura.

- Homes lost on Mesa Circle, Briarcliff Circle, La Cumbre Circle, Scenic Way, High Point Drive, El Malabar Drive in Ventura.

- Homes lost on Ridgecrest, Sexton Canyon Rd, Vista De Ventura, Horizon Dr, Harmon Canyon Rd.

- Multiple homes burning on Adirondack Ave in Ventura.

- Homes lost on Cliffside Circle, Topa Topa and Rainier in Ventura.

The fire are also forced the following roads in or near the area to be closed down till the situation is resolved:

According to ABC7, the Vista del Mar Hospital, a behavioral health care facility in Ventura, burned to the ground. All patients and staff were evacuated. Currently 500 firefighters are trying to put out the blaze. Also, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are prepared to control the flames.

Update 06:40 a.m. EST — Firefighters fighting the massive fire in Ventura County are fast running out of water, as the fire has spread to cover 26,000 acres of land. According to latest reports, 7,786 homes in Ventura and Santa Paula are under mandatory evacuation as fire officials have warned that the flames could extend to the city of Ventura.
“The fire is still out of control and structures are threatened throughout the fire area," the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said, CNN reported. "Due to the intensity of the fire, crews are having trouble making access, but there are multiple reports of structures on fire."

Update 05:46 a.m. EST — Vista del Mar Psychiatric hospital from where reportedly 70 people were evacuated is "possibly a complete loss."

Update 05:34 a.m. EST — Federal funding was reportedly secured by Federal Emergency Management Agency. Below are numbers for additional information on Thomas Fire.

Update 05:17 a.m. EST — Latest reports suggested the fire continued to burn Ventura City Hall. Several structures around the City Hall were also burning. There were no reports about any commercial buildings.

Update 05:09 a.m. EST — A Batallion chief, whose name was been disclosed, was struck by a vehicle.

Update 04:44 a.m. EST — So far, 50 houses have been reported burning in Ventura.

Update 04:18 a.m. EST — Sheriff Geoff Dean and police chief Mark Lorenzen shared the latest information regarding Thomas Fire's movements.

Update 04:07 a.m. EST — CA Fire Scanner tweeted ten additional type 1 strike teams have been ordered in addition to the other 40 that are already underway. A total of 250 engines have been requested so far.

Update 03:58 a.m. EST — Thomas Fire has so far caused 263,000 Californians to suffer power outage.

Update 03:57 a.m. EST — In the past half hour, several homes have been reported burning south of Foothill Road, Carol Drive in Ventura, Arroyo Verde Park among others, and evacuation process is underway.

Update 03:28 a.m. EST — It is confirmed! Multiple power outages in Santa Barbara are related to the Thomas Fire. Multiple structures have also been reportedly burning on Via Arroyo in Ventura.

Update 03:24 a.m. EST — After Santa Paula and Santa Barbara, the complete Ojai Valley loses its power. An information hotline has been set up.

Update 03: 13 a.m. EST — VCscanner, an unofficial breaking news channel from across Ventura County, has issued a warning for everyone to evacuate the zone as it is major fire. There has also been immediate road closures from Main Street to Canada Larga, Ventura Avenue.

Update 03:10 a.m. EST — Attempts to evacuate 70 patients from a psychiatric hospital are underway. Several structures were also reported to be burning in Sexton Canyon. The fire was said to be impacting Ondulando area of Ventura.

Update 02:37 a.m. EST — Evacuation process is still underway. Around 1,000 homes are being evacuated in eastern Ventura.

Update 02:30 a.m. EST — New Brush fire reported in Ventura. Teams are being requested for structural defence.

Update 02:14 a.m. EST — Thomas Fire is now estimated to have covered 15,000-20,000 acres.

Update 01:52 a.m. EST — According to latest reports coming in from Santa Paula, one fatality has been reported. The official cause has not been determined but the reason is said to be a car crash. Evacuation zone has also been extended to Highway 33.

Update 01:41 a.m. EST — According to new reports, the Thomas Fire has covered more than 10,000 acres and is expected to increase times three by the morning. The fire is expected to reach Ventura in two hours.

Update 01:35 a.m. EST — A new Brush fire was reported in ventura near Highway 33.

Update 01:00 a.m. EST — The whole town of Santa Barbara, California, lost electricity at the same time as Santa Paula. It has not been determined whether this is connected to the Thomas Fire.

Update 12:50 a.m. EST — A man who was stuck in an overturned vehicle by Wheeler Canyon has been rescued and taken to the hospital.

Update 12:44 a.m. EST — Structural threat to Sulphur Mountain is predicted if fire jumps Highway 150.

Update 12:42 a.m. EST — The fire has spread to more than 5,000 acres and is expected to hit Ventura tonight. Northern Santa Paula has been evacuated. A while ago, two helicopter of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Copter 6 & 7, were forced to land at Santa Paula Airport due to the winds.

Update 12:31 a.m. EST — A family has been reported trapped at Wheeler Canyon Road. They were surrounded by fire, while someone drove a burning truck out of the fire on Foothill Road.

Update 12:26 a.m. EST — Here is the traffic update at Highway 150.

Update 12:21 a.m. EST — Threat to Ventura City has increased. Evacuation notices are being circulated and reports suggest a grave danger to Ventura.

Update 12:18 a.m. EST — Road have been closed from Peck Road To wells Road of Foothill Road. The roads are expected to be heavily affected by fire in a short while.

Update 12:13 a.m. EST — Evacuations have been extended to the east towards Ventura City.

Update 12:06 a.m. EST — The crew at the scene of Thomas fire will unable to contain it until it heads east towards the city.

Update 12:04 a.m. EST — Latest reports stated Thomas Fire is heavily impacting Wheeler Canyon and is expected to burn all the way to Ventura County.

Update 11:56 p.m. EST — Water drop operations as well as the helicopters on scene have been called off due to wind turbulence. Fire is estimated at 3,000 acres.

Update 11:54 p.m. EST — Aircrafts have stopped being operational due to high winds.

Update 11:49 p.m. EST — Ventura County's Twitter channel, VCscanner has posted that ambulance strike team has been requested in case the fires threaten Santa Paula Hospital.

Update 11:40 p.m. EST — Here are the latest updates so far about the Thomas Fire.

Update 11:37 p.m. EST — Latest reports suggested that Thomas Fire has passed Adams Canyon area in Ventura County and moved towards Wheeler Canyon. The Wheeler Fire of 1985 which happened in the same place is touted to be the largest fire in California history.

Update 11:21 p.m. EST — At least a handful of structures have been lost along Highway 150. Thomas Fire is still heading towards Santa Paula but not as quickly.

Update 11:14 p.m. EST — Fire is expected to reach the Adams Canyon area, which is a valley in Ventura County, California. Tankers are being ordered for the morning too.

Update 11:04 p.m. EST — Thomas Fire has now reportedly spread across 2,500 acres and the Los Angeles County Fire Department has ordered for Copter 19 for assistance.

Update 10:53 p.m. EST — Firefighter Bernie Deyos said at least 500 homes have been ordered a mandatory evacuation.

Update: 10:52 p.m. EST — Ten Type 1 strike teams have now been ordered for the Thomas Fire. Six of them are en route while four more are being ordered along to its "5 Gulf Strike Teams."

Update: 10:47 p.m. EST — Deyo reported an immediate structure threat on Koenigstein Road and evacuations are now being started.

Update: 10:33 p.m. EST — Bernie Deyos shared an update from the scene saying Thomas Fire which is now 500-600 acre, is still being pushed by an easterly wind towards Santa Paula.

Original Story

Officials said a fast-moving and wind-fueled fire has burned about 50 acres in the foothills of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, a city in Ventura County, California, the Los Angeles Times reported. The firefighters got in place shortly before 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. EST) to protect the houses along Highway 150, which is just north of Santa Paula.

According to Stan Ziegler, Ventura County Fire Captain, no evacuations had been ordered and the blaze was reported around 6:25 p.m. local time (9:25 p.m. EST).

The fire department has also staffed 100 extra firefighters in anticipation of strong winds, which triggered a red flag warning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Ziegler added they were prepared for the event.

“This is exactly what we have prepared for. This is not a surprise by any means.”

The fire has been dubbed “Thomas Fire,” an ABC owned-and-operated television station, WLS-TV reported.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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