The Thomas Fire

Southern California is (still) on fire. Now it has the largest blaze in state history.

The Thomas Fire has burned 281,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

By Umair Irfan Dec 27, 2017, 1:40pm EST

 

A man watches the Thomas Fire in the hills above Carpinteria, California.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters are finally gaining ground against the single largest wildfire in California history that has been burning through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties this month.

Spanning more than 281,000 acres, which is about 1.6 times the size of New York City, the massive Thomas Fire is 88 percent contained as of Tuesday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Almost 900 firefighters joined the battle, bringing 116 fire engines, 26 helicopters, and 19 bulldozers to bear against a blaze that has been burning since December 4.

The fire has burned through more than 1,000 structures; it also claimed the life of a firefighter on December 14 and is blamed for two other deaths. Soot and ash from the flames led to record-high air pollution in the region, making it too dangerous to even be outside.

It’s a tragic finale to what has already California’s worst fire season ever as several huge, deadly infernos burned uncontrolled for days across the state.

The Tubbs Fire, which ignited in October in Sonoma County, torched 5,643 structures, making it the most destructive wildfire on record in California, and killed 22 people. Across the state, fires killed more than 40 people and scorched more than 1.2 million acres, towering over the five-year average of 202,751 acres.

What caused California’s “perfect firestorm”

Several natural and human-caused factors have converged this year to add to the devastation. Following years of drought, the wettest winter on record drenched the state, feeding a bumper crop of trees, grasses, and shrubs throughout California. Then heat waves baked much of the state, drying out the vegetation, followed by unusually stiff seasonal winds.

At the same time, populations are growing throughout California, especially close to fire-prone areas. Human activities ignite the vast majority of wildfires, and climate change is worsening forest fires throughout the United States, though researchers don’t see a connection between climate change and the current brush fires around Los Angeles.

As a result, fires have become more dangerous, and more destructive blazes are in store for the Golden State.

University of California Los Angeles environmental scientist Glen MacDonald called it a “perfect firestorm.” He added: “It really shows you our relative power to nature. We sometimes overestimate how much we can handle.”

For now, fire officials are optimistic that the devastating fire season is coming to a close and that the Thomas Fire is winding down.

“Even though fuels in the fire area remain critically dry, with shorter days and lack of significant winds no forward progress of the fire is expected,” according to Cal Fire. 

Betty MacDonald, a very special politician and a year ago 

Many ESC fans from all over the world are so very sad because we lost Joy Fleming - one of the best singers ever. 


Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel sings  'Try to remember' especially for Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund at Vita Magica September

you can join 

Betty MacDonald fan club

Betty MacDonald Society  

Vita Magica  

Eurovision Song Contest Fan Club 

on Facebook

Vita Magica Betty MacDonald event with Wolfgang Hampel, Thomas Bödigheimer and Friedrich von Hoheneichen

Vita Magica 

Betty MacDonald 

Betty MacDonald fan club 

Betty MacDonald fan club on Facebook

Betty MacDonald forum  

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( Polski)   

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - LinkFang ( German ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Academic ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel -  cyclopaedia.net ( German ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - DBpedia  ( English / German )

Wolfgang Hampel - people check ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Memim ( English )

Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  
 
Betty MacDonald fan club groups 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund