United States: Forest fire continues to rage in California /update 10

Event

A major forest fire - named the Thomas Fire - continues to rage in southern California’s Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, located just north of Los Angeles. As of December 12, the fire, which was sparked a week prior, had burned some 950 km² (370 mi²) of land. At least 900 structures have been razed and 94,000 residents displaced. Dry conditions and strong winds, as well as difficult terrain, have rendered firefighting efforts difficult. The fire continues to spread and was only 20 percent contained by Tuesday night.

The fire has become the fifth largest fire in California’s history. Various other smaller fires are also burning in the state. Traffic disruptions, power outages, and school closures are expected to persist in the affected areas in the coming days.

Context

Southern California generally experiences its worst wildfires between October and December, due to the increased strength of the Santa Ana winds. Rugged terrain and dry conditions - which have been exacerbated by years of drought - render it particularly difficult to contain fires in the region once they have broken out.

Advice

Individuals in California are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas affected by the wildfires, adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and monitor the situation.