Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fifth-largest wildfire in California grows
LOS ANGELES — 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 into neighborhoods amid fears of renewed winds.
Firefighters protected foothill homes northwest of Los Angeles, making progress in residential areas while much of the fire’s growth occurred to the north in unoccupied forestland, Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said Tuesday.
“There were a couple of flare-ups in the hills that put on a light show last night, but they were expected. For now the teams are fighting the fire on their own terms,” he said, adding that shifting winds are always a danger.
Red flag warnings stemming from Santa Ana winds and a critical lack of moisture were extended into the week, with a possible increase in gusts forecast for Thursday into Friday. Tens of thousands of people remain evacuated, including many from the seaside enclaves of Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria, and the inland agricultural town of Fillmore.
Among the evacuees because of smoke Tuesday were Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Eric Burdon and his wife, Marianna, of Ojai. Last week, Burdon wrote on Facebook about having to flee and returning temporarily to find their home still standing with ashes all around.
“A week like this gives you the perspective that life is what truly matters,” he wrote.
A photo accompanying the post showed his handprint and signature written in ashes.
Residents near a Carpinteria avocado orchard said the trees could end up saving their homes.
“You have a thick layer of leaves underneath the bottom and they are watered regularly, so it’s like a sponge,” Jeff Dreyer, who lives nearby, told KEYT-TV. “So the fire gets to the sponge full of water and it slows it down. It takes a long time for it to burn.”
Poor air quality kept dozens of schools closed. As ash rained and smoke blew through streets, regulators urged people to remain inside if possible and avoid strenuous activity.
Officials handed out masks to those who stayed behind in Montecito, a community about 75 miles from Los Angeles that’s home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and Drew Barrymore. Actor Rob Lowe was among residents who evacuated over the weekend.
The blaze — known as the Thomas Fire — has destroyed more than 680 homes, officials said. It was just partially contained Tuesday after burning more than 360 square miles of dry brush and timber. The fire has been burning for more than a week.
To the north, San Francisco Bay Area firefighters quickly contained blazes Tuesday that destroyed at least two homes in hills east of Oakland — the site of a 1991 firestorm that killed 25 people.