Thomas Fire Now At 40% Containment

Thomas Fire

(Santa Barbara, CA)  —  Firefighters in California are facing increased hardship due to strong winds as they battle the Thomas Fire.  New evacuation orders were issued for Santa Barbara County affecting 33-thousand people.  Winds are pushing the flames towards the coastal communities of Carpinteria, Montecito and Santa Barbara itself.  The Thomas Fire has now burned 259-thousand acres and destroyed more than a thousand structures, including over 750 homes.  The fire is now 40 percent contained, but full containment isn’t expected until January.