National December 17, 2017

Montecito Threatened; More Evacuations In California As Fire Spreads

MONTECITO, CA - DECEMBER 16: A strong wind blows embers from smoldering trees at the Thomas Fire on December 16, 2017 in Montecito, California. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings of dangerous fire weather in Southern California for the duration of the weekend. Prior to the weekend, Los Angeles and Ventura counties had 12 consecutive days of red flag fire warnings, the longest sustained period of fire weather warnings on record. The Thomas Fire is currently the fourth largest California fire since records began in 1932, growing to 400 square miles and destroying more than 1,000 structures since it began on December 4. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

High winds are returning to southern California meaning it will be another difficult day for firefighters who have come from all over the country to fight the blaze. More than 8,000 firefighters are now battling fires in Santa Barbara county, making it the largest mobilization in state history. The fire has consumed more than 260,000 acres. But the story today will again be about the winds. In some areas, gusts are near hurricane strength making it all but impossible to slow the fires spread. The Thomas fire is now threatening homes near Montecito.

More evacuations are expected today. Some Californians waited until the last minute and barely escaped.

The Los Angeles Times has maps that shows just how large this fire is. Thomas will most likely soon become the largest wildfire in California history.