The Santa Barbara wildfire, dubbed the Thomas Fire, in Los Angeles has proven to be a devastating one even days after the incident. At this point, only 45 percent of the fire has been contained, and local authorities and aid have been vigilant and hard-at-work in coming up with new ways to solve the natural calamity that is now considered to be the third largest wildfire in the history of California.
Reports reveal that local authorities called in additional evacuations to secure the lives of those who are in close proximity to fire over the weekend. The evacuations were prioritized in the areas of Montecito and Summerland, which have been experiencing significant gusts of winds that reach up to 30 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour. All of this occurred while firefighters were still busy putting out the massive flames that engulfed the area.
However, firefighters have run into problems in trying to directly put out the fires in the area due to it spreading from the west and the south. On top of that, the weather has maintained its windy and high temperatures with very low humidity in the air. According to National Public Radio, the Thomas Fire has now claimed an estimate of 1,000 structures, inclusive of which is at least 750 homes. This is truly a testament to the devastating effects of the flames.
As it turns out, the eventuality of the large flames is due largely in part by the long-standing drought that has plagued the California region in recent years. The dryness brought on by the drought allowed for the flame to spread at a very hasty rate, overwhelming a very big area in Santa Barbara and Montecito. Local firefighters have been attempting to approach the situation strategically, without having to put any of them at risk of losing their lives.
