Ferocious Santa Ana winds raking Southern California whipped explosive wildfires Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of homes.
The biggest blaze broke out Monday in Ventura County and grew wildly to more than 48 square miles (124 sq. kilometers) in the hours that followed, sheriff's Sgt. Eric Buschow said.
Another fire erupted on the north edge of Los Angeles, threatening the Sylmar and Lakeview Terrace neighborhoods, where residents scrambled to get out.
For the latest on the Ventura fire, click here. For the latest on the Sylmar fire, click here.
With files from the Associated Press
Current view from Ventura Harbor.
, Ventura Fire and all responding are doing amazing job fighting this fire.
— Chris Mattia (@csmattia)
Current view from Ventura Harbor. @VCFD_PIO , Ventura Fire and all responding are doing amazing job fighting this fire. #ThomasFire pic.twitter.com/D3CJCeW7eD
— Chris Mattia (@csmattia) December 5, 2017
is currently impacting Highway 150. Please leave impact areas early as firefighting equipment need access to continue structure protection operations.
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO)
#ThomasFire is currently impacting Highway 150. Please leave impact areas early as firefighting equipment need access to continue structure protection operations. #VCFD @VCFD pic.twitter.com/WrpIq7mAaf
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 5, 2017
The intensity of the
, plus the wind, made it pretty much unstoppable, fire officials said. “The prospects for containment are not good”
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes)
The intensity of the #ThomasFire, plus the wind, made it pretty much unstoppable, fire officials said. “The prospects for containment are not good” https://t.co/h2znfxQHTN pic.twitter.com/hST0kLd8VD
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 5, 2017
near the mall
— Justice (@XorOwl)
#ThomasFire near the mall pic.twitter.com/Ig9zerDdTN
— Justice (@XorOwl) December 5, 2017
Fire looked crazy last night. Hopefully everyones safe out there
— Yung Honja (@Ntrl__)
Guests:
Emily Guerin, KPCC reporter who is in Ventura
Josie Huang, KPCC correspondent who is in Lake View Terrace