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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 13 december 2017

Crews struggle to keep flames from California neighborhoods

tered regularly, so it’s like Thomas Fire — has de-
a sponge,” Jeff Dreyer, stroyed more than 680
who lives nearby, told KEYT- homes, officials said. It was
TV. “So the fire gets to the just partially contained af-
sponge full of water and ter burning more than 360
it slows it down. It takes a square miles (930 square ki-
long time for it to burn.” lometers) of dry brush and
Poor air quality kept dozens timber. The fire has been
of schools closed. As ash burning for more than a
rained down and smoke week.
blew through streets, regu- The fire is in an area of Cali-
lators urged people to re- fornia that has remained in
main inside if possible and at least moderate drought
avoid strenuous activity. even after last winter’s
Officials handed out masks powerful rains and heavy
to those who stayed be- mountain snowfall elimi-
hind in Montecito, an ex- nated drought symptoms
clusive community about in much of the rest of the
75 miles (120 kilometers) state.
from Los Angeles that’s To the north, San Fran-
home to stars such as cisco Bay Area firefighters
Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges quickly contained blazes
and Drew Barrymore. Actor Tuesday that destroyed at
County fire hand crew member Nikolas Abele keeps an eye on a hillside for any stray embers Rob Lowe was among resi- least two homes in hills east
during a firing operation in Santa Monica Canyon in Carpinteria, Calif., Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. dents who evacuated over of Oakland — the site of a
Ash fell like snow and heavy smoke had residents gasping for air Monday as a wildfire exploded the weekend. 1991 firestorm that killed 25
in size, becoming the fifth largest in state history. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara FD/AP)
The blaze — known as the people.q
By CHRIS WEBER sible increase in gusts Thurs-
Associated Press day into Friday.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Tens of thousands of peo-
fifth largest wildfire in Cali- ple remain evacuated,
fornia history expanded, including many from the
ripping through dry brush seaside enclaves of Mon-
atop a coastal ridge while tecito, Summerland and
crews struggled to keep Carpinteria and the inland
flames from roaring down agricultural town of Fill-
into neighborhoods amid more. Still among evacu-
fears of renewed winds. ees due to smoke Tuesday
Firefighters protected foot- were Rock and Roll Hall of
hill homes northwest of Los Fame member Eric Burdon
Angeles, making progress and his wife, Marianna, of
in residential areas while Ojai. Last week, Burdon
much of the fire’s growth wrote on Facebook about
occurred to the north in un- having to flee and return-
occupied forest land, San- ing temporarily to find their
ta Barbara County Fire De- home still standing with
partment spokesman Mike ashes all around.
Eliason said Tuesday.”There “A week like this gives you
were a couple of flare-ups the perspective that life
in the hills that put on a light is what truly matters,” he
show last night, but they wrote. A photo accompa-
were expected. For now nying the post showed his
the teams are fighting the handprint and signature
fire on their own terms,” he written in ashes.
said, adding that shifting Residents near a Carpinte-
winds are always a danger. ria avocado orchard said
Red Flag warnings for fire the trees could end up sav-
danger due to Santa Ana ing their homes.
winds and a critical lack of “You have a thick layer
moisture were extended of leaves underneath the
into the week, with a pos- bottom and they are wa-