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U.S. NEWS Thursday 14 december 2017

Crews gain on huge California fire but wind threat remains

Ventura counties. said.
The so-called Thomas fire has Back at the largest of the
burned over 900 structures, wildfires, firefighters protect-
at least 700 of them homes, ed foothill homes while the
since it broke out Dec. 4. It flames churned mostly into
stretches across nearly 370 unoccupied forest land, Santa
square miles (958 sq. kilome- Barbara County Fire Depart-
ters) of Southern California, ment spokesman Mike Elia-
making it the fifth largest in son said.
state history. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Elsewhere, fire officials an- member Eric Burdon and his
nounced that a cooking fire wife, Marianna, of Ojai were
at a homeless encampment among the people who fled
sparked a blaze last week the smoke Tuesday.
that destroyed six homes in Burdon, a member of the
the Bel Air neighborhood of 1960s British Invasion band
Los Angeles. The Animals, wrote on Face-
Arson investigators deter- book last week about having
mined that the so-called to flee and returning tem-
Skirball fire near the world- porarily to find their home
famous Getty museum was still standing with ashes all
started by an illegal fire at a around.
camp near a freeway under- “A week like this gives you the
A member of a Santa Barbara County Fire Crew keeps an eye on a bulldozer building a fire break pass, city fire Capt. Erik Scott perspective that life is what
in the hills above Bella Vista Drive in Montecito, Calif., as the fight against a wildfire the continues said. truly matters,” he wrote.
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. The fifth-largest wildfire in California history expanded Tuesday, ripping
through dry brush atop a coastal ridge while crews struggled to keep flames from roaring down The camp was empty when A photo accompanying the
into neighborhoods amid fears of renewed winds. firefighters found it, but post showed his handprint
(Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County FD/AP) people apparently had been and signature written in
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After night that crews had carved one-quarter of the blaze sleeping and cooking there ashes.q
announcing increased con- containment lines around straddling Santa Barbara and for at least several days, he
tainment on one of the big-
gest wildfires in California Custer State Park fire spreads rapidly, threatens towns
history, officials warned that
communities remain at risk CUSTER, S.D. (AP) — A according to park officials. succeeded in protecting The wildfire was threaten-
and the threat could increase wildfire in a popular South “From hearing the briefing the popular State Game ing the communities of
as unpredictable winds whip Dakota state park grew this morning, a lot of these Lodge by burning downed Fairburn and Buffalo Gap,
up again. rapidly overnight, pushing firefighters say they haven’t trees and grass between it which are east of the park.
Red Flag warnings for fire beyond the park’s borders seen anything like this fire and the fire. Residents of about 200
danger due to Santa Ana and threatening nearby in 10 to 20 years,” said Ko- The park is home to a herd area homes have been
winds and a critical lack of communities where evac- bee Stalder, the park’s visi- of about 1,300 buffalo, evacuated or warned to
and park officials tweeted evacuate, Custer County
uations were underway tor services program man-
moisture were extended, Wednesday. ager. Wednesday that they’d be Emergency Management
with a possible increase in The fire in Custer State Park, “A lot of people are com- checking on the wellbeing director Mike Carter said
gusts into the end of the which is just south of Mount paring this to a mid-sum- of the herd and other ani- early Wednesday morning.
week. Rushmore National Memo- mer fire.” mals along its popular wild- Lucia Roda, who man-
Evacuations continued rial in the state’s southwest, No one has been injured life loop road. ages a Spanish mustang
Wednesday for the seaside grew from about 6 square by the blaze, which started The fire’s spread through preserve with 34 horses
enclaves of Montecito, Sum- miles (16 square kilometers) on Monday. Some fences the southeastern end of the in Buffalo Gap, said her
merland and Carpinteria and on Tuesday to about 55 and outbuildings have park put wildlife in danger, family got an early morn-
the inland agricultural town square miles (142 square burned, but none of the but the officials said they ing pre-evacuation notice
of Fillmore. kilometers) on Wednesday park’s main buildings have don’t know of any animal suggesting they leave, but
Officials announced Tuesday and is 7 percent contained, been destroyed and crews deaths. they decided to remain.q