The Thomas Fire was a massive wildfire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and one of multiple wildfires that ignited in southern California in December 2017. “We’re in California.Map of the Thomas Fire and adjacent fires Progression of the Thomas Fire, by December 25, 2017 The denuded land in the wake of the flames could now face mudslides as the rainy season picks up, for example. However, it’s still too early to tell what 2018 holds, and officials warn that the lingering effects of the current fires are creating new risks. The dry start to the year may also mean there will be less vegetation to burn in this year’s fire season. Scott McLean, deputy chief at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), said it will likely still be a few weeks before the Thomas Fire is fully contained since parts of the fire are in remote and inaccessible areas.īut the swift Santa Ana winds are dying down and humidity is rising in the region, reducing the risk of a new inferno. We sometimes overestimate how much we can handle.”įor now, fire officials are optimistic that the devastating fire season is finally coming to a close. University of California Los Angeles environmental scientist Glen MacDonald called it a “perfect firestorm.” He added: “It really shows you our relative power to nature. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection As you can see in this chart, 14 of the top 20 largest fires in California history have occurred since 2000. Human activities ignite the vast majority of wildfires, and climate change is worsening forest fires throughout the United States, though researchers don’t see a connection between climate change and the current brush fires around Los Angeles.Īs a result, fires have become more dangerous, and more destructive blazes are in store for the Golden State. Then heat waves baked much of the state, drying out the vegetation, followed by unusually stiff seasonal winds.Īt the same time, populations are growing throughout California, especially close to fire-prone areas. Following years of drought, the wettest winter on record drenched the state, feeding a bumper crop of trees, grasses, and shrubs throughout California. Several natural and human-caused factors have converged this year to add to the devastation. What caused California’s “perfect firestorm” Across the state, fires killed more than 40 people and scorched more than 1.2 million acres, towering over the five-year average of 202,751 acres. The Tubbs Fire, which ignited in October in Sonoma County, torched 5,643 structures, making it the most destructive wildfire on record in California, and killed 22 people. It’s a tragic finale to what has already been California’s worst fire season, as several huge, deadly infernos burned uncontrolled for days across the state. Soot and ash from the flames led to record-high air pollution in the region, making it too dangerous to even be outside. The fire destroyed more than 1,000 structures it also claimed the life of a firefighter on December 14 and is blamed for two other deaths. It’s been a massive endeavor, drawing at its peak almost 900 firefighters into the battle and bringing 116 fire engines, 26 helicopters, and 19 bulldozers to bear against a blaze that has been burning since December 4. Officials report that the Thomas Fire burned nearly 282,000 acres across Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, about 1.6 times the size of New York City, but is 92 percent contained as of Wednesday. This places it in a tie with the 1962-1963 water year for the 4th driest start to a water year since records began in 1877 #cawx #LAweather /hAaHdxIc7x- NWS Los Angeles January 3, 2018 31st 2017, Downtown Los Angeles has received just 0.12 inches of rain. Since the start of the water year (officially October 1st), thru Dec.
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