An explosive and fierce fire has been uncontrolled at dawn this Tuesday in southern California, causing the death of at least one person and 27,000 evacuees. In a matter of hours the flames went from occupying an area of 20 hectares to devouring some 12,500, and razed 150 buildings in the vicinity of the locality of Ventura.
The fire, called “Thomas Fire”, began at dawn at 100 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles, in the town of Santa Paula. Driven by gusts of wind up to 80 kilometres per hour, the flames rode on the banks of the Santa Clara River in the direction of the coast, where Ventura, a city of 100,000 inhabitants, was surrounded. Hundreds of firefighters worked tirelessly during the night, but so far they have not managed to neutralize the advance of the fire. Four helicopters also participate in emergency tasks.
For more #ThomasFire updates, please check out https://t.co/RcSOkKXrb0 Pic.twitter.com/EEEy8N5RaI — Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) December 5, 2017 “The prospects for containment are not good.” “It will be Mother Nature who decides,” said Mark Lorenzen, the Ventura County Fire Chief at a press conference. He also explained that the intensity of the fire has prevented his teams from accessing the flames. The authorities believe that Thomas, who has already razed 12,500 hectares, burned at least 20,200 for the dryness of the terrain and the rise of the winds in the coming hours.
One person died in a traffic accident on one of the fire-cut roads when he tries to evacuate. More than 260,000 people have been left without electricity. A huge apartment complex has been shattered.
Thomas arrives at the end of the worst year of fire in California history. In October, a fire in the north of the state caused the death of more than 40 people and the destruction of 100,000 buildings.
