Title : Firefighters look to gain on California wildfire as winds remain relentless
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Firefighters look to gain on California wildfire as winds remain relentless
Firefighters hope to gain further control on Tuesday of a wildfire, the fifth-largest in California's history, as relentless wind gusts and bone-dry weather conditions are expected to persist.
The blaze, known as the Thomas Fire, which has burned 93,765 hectares acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties about 160 kilometres northwest of downtown Los Angeles, grew but at a slower pace, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.
But strong wind gusts of up to 65 km/h and extremely low humidity that are expected through Thursday will continue to pose a challenge to firefighting efforts, the U.S. National Weather Service said.
"That combination of winds and very low relative humidity leads to critical fire conditions and can allow for a potential of significant fire growth and fire behaviour," National Weather Service incident meteorologist Rich Thompson said at a community meeting on the fire on Monday evening.
7,000 firefighters
About 7,000 firefighters were battling the blaze that has destroyed about 800 structures including more than 680 homes, Cal Fire said.
Dry vegetation that has not burned in 50 years are acting as fuel for the fire in the mountains southeast of Santa Barbara and northwest of Ventura, spokesperson Ian McDonald said.
The Thomas Fire advances toward Santa Barbara County seaside communities on Sunday in Carpinteria, Calif. (David McNew/Getty Images)
"Because the slopes are so steep and the terrain is so rocky, it is actually quite dangerous," he said. "We are not going to put firefighters in harm's way half way up a steep rocky slope. We are going to wait for the fire comes to us and extinguish it where it is safe."
Public schools in Santa Barbara and some school systems nearby have cancelled classes this week and will not reconvene until the annual winter break is completed in January, said Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider.
Some of the other fires burning over the past week in San Diego and Los Angeles counties have been largely controlled by the thousands of firefighters on the ground.
The Creek and Rye fires in Los Angeles County were both at least 90 per cent contained, officials said, while the Skirball Fire in the posh Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles was 85 per cent contained.
North of San Diego, the 1,660-hectare Lilac Fire was also 90 per cent contained on Monday, after destroying 151 structures.
What's happening with the California wildfires?0:39
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