New California Wildfire Pictures And Videos Show Extent Of Massive Thomas Fire

Wildfires in Southern California continued to rage on Monday as thousands of firefighters worked to contain the flames. While some had been almost fully contained, the Thomas Fire, the Creek Fire, the Rye Fire, the Skirball Fire and the Lilac Fire were still burning.

The collective acreage of the fires by Monday morning was larger than that of Boston and New York City combined, CNN reported.

The Thomas Fire, the largest in the state, burned through 230,000 acres by Monday morning and was only 15 percent contained. The Creek Fire was mostly contained, at 95 percent, after burning through 15,000 acres. In San Diego County, the Lilac Fire consumed an estimated 4,100 acres and was 80 percent contained. Also in San Diego County, the Skirball Fire was 85 percent contained after it burned through about 422 acres. The Rye Fire was 93 percent contained and had consumed more than 15,000 acres of land.

The Thomas Fire continued to pose the greatest threat in California. At just less than half the size of Rhode Island, it became the fifth largest wildfire in the entirety of the state’s history, according to USA Today. Almost 800 structures were destroyed, while another 187 were damaged, California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Some 94,600 people were under mandatory evacuation orders in both Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.

“This is a menacing fire, certainly,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said Sunday, according to Reuters. “But we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control.”

Strong Santa Ana winds over the past week hindered firefighting efforts and allowed the flames to spread quickly. Wind speeds were expected to lower, according to forecasts, but humidity would remain low and no precipitation was likely to hit the area. Cal Fire warned the Thomas Fire would continue to threaten communities in Montecito, Carpenteria, Summerland and other areas. Many celebrities who live in the area, particularly in Montecito, weighed in on the situation. Ellen Degeneres said her home was under threat of being burned.

“Everyone in the Montecito area is checking up on each other and helping to get people and animals to safety,” DeGeneres tweeted Sunday. “I’m proud to be a part of this community. I’m sending lots of love and gratitude to the fire department and sheriffs. Thank you all.”

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in California Friday, allowing for federal assistance in the wake of the fires. California Gov. Jerry Brown, meanwhile, said widespread wildfires could potentially become the new normal in the Golden State.

“We’re facing a new reality in the state,” Brown said Saturday. “It’s a horror and a horror we need to recover from. California is burning up.”

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