US
California Wildfire Jumps 101 Freeway, Decimates 50,000 Acres
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A wildfire spurred by wind gusts has razed at least 150 structures, including an apartment complex and psychiatric hospital, and forced thousands of evacuations in Ventura, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reports.
The fire leapt across highways and Freeway 101 in Ventura, coming to Solimar Beach and the Pacific Ocean before it stopped.
Cal Fire authorities say the number of buildings lost is probably much higher. Some areas still are not accessible for officials to review the damage as the fire, lit Monday night, continues to burn, according to the Los Angeles Times.
At least five homes turned to rubble after #VenturaFire rolled through. A 360 view from just one street. This is a portion of Heidelberg ave. pic.twitter.com/DkGjw3N8Tp
— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) December 5, 2017
#ThomasFire Red glow at sunset Tuesday of homes destroyed by the wind driven fire in the Clearpoint neighborhood of Ventura as the fire moves into the back country pic.twitter.com/uAb6ZuWCE7
— Al Seib (@AlSeibPhoto) December 6, 2017
Mass water and power outages hit Ventura as the fire burned through neighborhoods and hit downtown Ventura like a “freight train.”
VCFD Capt. Kaufmann says there are no containment lines for #ThomasFire, which is at 50,000 acres. pic.twitter.com/n2krIVe3oc
— Sarah Parvini
#Thomasfire unbelievable scene in Ventura as many homes are lost to wind driven fire pic.twitter.com/DH8u6qbTRt
— Al Seib (@AlSeibPhoto) December 6, 2017
The fire burning through Ventura, the Thomas Fire, has consumed 50,000 acres, or nearly 80 square miles. A smaller fire has burned another 15,000 acres in Los Angeles County, NPR reports.
The explosive nature of the #ThomasFire can be seen on nighttime satellite imagery. https://t.co/9ZCzuOOF4J pic.twitter.com/vDtcea7vem
— CNN Weather Center (@CNNweather) December 5, 2017
Firefighters battling the fire have faced a near impossible battle as winds as high as 50 miles per hour with gusts of 70 miles per hour fueled the blaze, according to the Los Angeles Times.
#ThomasFire Intense Wind continues in the hills above Ventura currently at 45,000 acres with 150 homes and structures lost pic.twitter.com/OFImtC46V4
— Al Seib (@AlSeibPhoto) December 5, 2017
California had already experienced the deadliest fire season on record by October when wildfires killed 42 people and destroyed around 8,400 buildings in that month alone.
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