Thomas Fire Second Largest In CA History At 272,000 Acres

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA -- The Thomas Fire that ignited more than two weeks ago in Southern California grew to 272,000 acres, making it the second largest wildfire in state history. As of Wednesday morning, it was 60 percent contained.

Strong winds are expected to hit the region Wednesday afternoon, which could make the Thomas Fire the largest fire on record. The largest California wildfire currently on record is the 2003 Cedar Fire, which burned for 12 days and was fully contained at 273,246 acres.

"With the introduction of these winds, critically dry fuels will be highly receptive to fire spread," Cal Fire said in a daily report. "Montecito will continue to be an area of concern, where north winds are funneled through the Santa Ynez Range."

The fire began in Santa Paula on Dec. 4 before burning through Ventura County, eventually reaching Santa Barbara County. So far, more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed and another 250 damaged. Another 18,000 structures remain threatened, fire officials said.

The Thomas Fire took the life of CalFire fighter Cory Iverson last week and 70-year-old Virginia Pesola of Ventura.

--Photo: In this photo released by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a dozer from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department clears a fire break across a canyon from atop Camino Cielo down to Gibraltar to make a stand should the fire move in that direction, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in the Santa Ynez Mountains area of Santa Barbara, Calif. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

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