Thomas Fire In California Kills 1, 15% Contained

VENTURA COUNTY, CA -- A fast-growing fire that scorched 148,000 acres, killing one person and damaging 500 homes was 15 percent contained as of Saturday morning.

The Thomas Fire sparked Monday night in Santa Paula, about an hour away from Los Angeles, before making its way through Ventura County, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean. Fueled by Santa Ana winds, the fire forced the evacuation of more than 120,000 people in Southern California.

On Friday evening, Ventura County Medical Examiner Christopher Young announced 70-year-old Virginia Pesola died as a result of the fire.

"The death involved a traffic incident during active fire evacuation," Young said in a press release. "The cause of death is blunt force injuries with terminal smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.”

At 10 a.m. Saturday, officials announced new mandatory evacuations for the area from Rancho Matilija West to Lake Casitas. The evacuation includes Highway 150, “Casitas Pass Rd," West to the Santa Barbara County Line.

The fire was one of several to affect Southern California this week. The largest fire sparked in Ventura County where more than 132,000 acres burned starting inland before reaching the Pacific Ocean.

The fires were fueled by erratic Santa Ana winds with forecasters issuing a red flag warning through Sunday night.

--Photo courtesy of Ventura County Fire Department