Effective this morning, the fire only grew 500 acres larger. It had been taking an acre a second at its peak.
http://www.ksby.com/story/37038692/thomas-fire-burns-230500-acres-containment-increases-to-15
Today I drove on the 154 pass to Solvang, and there were a number of bulldozers in the mountains making wide fire breaks in the heavy brush that has accumulated in only 9 years after the Zaca fire. The experts are hoping the burn area extinguishes/burns itself out in the previous wild fires out here in SB county.
Only one fire fighter has suffered injury, a broken leg, and had to be air lifted to the hospital. One death of a 70 yo lady who was trying to escape the fire in Santa Paula. I'd say those are pretty minimal losses related to human lives. It's all the animals and homes that were lost that is devastating as well. |
