California Fires Update: Latest On Thomas, Lilac, Creek And Skirball Wildfires

Firefighters continued to make progress battling multiple wildfires in Southern California this week. The largest among them, the Thomas Fire, continued to rage on, however, burning through hundreds of thousands of acres and growing.

Here are the latest details and updates from the Thomas Fire, Lilac Fire, Skirball Fire and Creek Fires.

Thomas Fire

The largest fire in Southern California this week, the Thomas Fire burned through 237,500 acres by Wednesday afternoon. The blaze, which started Dec. 4, was only 25 percent contained and had already destroyed 921 structures and damaged another 200. An estimated 18,000 structures continued to be threatened by the fire.

Strong Santa Ana winds combined with high temperatures and low humidity were expected to continue fueling the flames, which were moving north and west, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The communities of Santa Barbara, Carpenteria, Summerland, Montecito and other surrounding areas remained in danger.

Almost 8,000 firefighters were deployed to contain the fire. The fire became the fifth largest in California state history over the weekend. Tens of thousands remained under evacuation orders more than a week after the fire started.

“We need the weather to shift,” said battalion chief Ron Mclaughlin, according to NPR. “We need the moist air. We’re only about a mile from the ocean, and to be this dry this close to the ocean is an anomaly.”

The cause of the Thomas Fire remained unknown, though an investigation was underway.

Creek Fire

The Creek Fire began Dec. 5 near Sylmar and had burned through about 15,619 acres since then. The fire was mostly contained Wednesday, at 98 percent. Firefighters remained on scene to quash pockets of isolated flames.

Sixty residential buildings were damaged by the creek fire, while another 55 residential buildings were destroyed. All evacuation orders put in place as a result of the Creek Fire were lifted.

Lilac Fire

The Lilac Fire in San Diego County burned through about 4,100 acres of land after beginning near Old Highway 395 in Bonsall. The fire was 95 percent contained by Wednesday afternoon and all roads in the area were reopened.

The fire destroyed 157 structures and damaged another 64, Cal Fire said. Full containment was expected by Dec. 21, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.

Skirball Fire

The Skirball Fire broke out Dec. 6 near the 405 Freeway and burned through more about 422 acres. The fire was 85 percent contained by Tuesday morning though firefighters were expected to remain on scene until they reached 100 percent containment.

At least 12 structures were damaged and another six were destroyed in the Skirball Fire. All mandatory evacuation orders for the surrounding regions were lifted. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries while battling the flames.

The Skirball Fire was determined to have been caused by an illegal fire started in an encampment near a freeway underpass, the Los Angeles Fire Department said said.

“Investigators said the fire had not been set deliberately and they have not found any of the people who live there,” the Los Angeles Times reported. “The camp – one of scores of makeshift communities that have grown along freeways, rivers and open space across Los Angeles – was largely destroyed in the fire, leaving authorities with little evidence.”