CARPINTERIA: Powerful gusts of wind and bone dry conditions will remain overriding concerns for Californian firefighters as they seek to tame a huge blaze that has destroyed hundreds of homes.
The Thomas Fire has travelled 27 43 km since it began on Dec 4 to become the fifth-largest wildfire in state history.
It has charred more than 953 square km of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, an area larger than New York City.
A break in the hot, dry winds on Tuesday sapped the fire’s forward momentum and allowed crews to prevent further damage to homes.
But adverse weather will “promote significant fire growth (and) ... hamper control efforts” on Wednesday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said in an evening advisory.
The fire, which was 25 per cent contained, will continue to threaten the coastal communities of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Summerland and Montecito as powerful Santa Ana wind gusts and humidity of less than 10 per cent will remain in the forecast until Friday, Cal Fire and the National Weather Service said.
Some of the 7,800 firefighters deployed against the blaze on Tuesday took advantage of the better weather to set controlled burns in a canyon near Carpinteria to deprive the flames of fuel, Cal Fire Captain Steve Concialdi.
The Thomas Fire has so far destroyed 701 homes and displaced more than 94,000 people. — Reuters
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