17 frightening images of the California wildfires that show how much damage has been done
It’s been four days since the first of the Southern California fires sparked late December 4th. Now, according to The New York Times, over 158,000 acres have been burned, and President Trump has declared an emergency in the state. We’ve compiled 17 images collected from the California wildfires in order to depict the seriousness of the situation.
CNN reported earlier this morning, December 8th, that the largest of the fires, the Thomas Fire, is still moving through Ventura County toward Los Angeles. The fire is currently twice the size of Washington D.C. and reportedly doesn’t look like it’s slowing down. In fact, the Thomas Fire is burning about an acre per second, according to CNN.
The Thomas Fire alone has claimed up to 132,000 acres. The Lilac Fire, just north of San Diego, burned around 4,000 acres in 12 hours on Thursday, December 7th. With the numbers still rising, the Times reports that 1.2 million acres in California have been burned thus far.
The Santa Ana winds are to blame for the fires’ exponential growth. These huge gusts of wind — some reaching up to 60 mph — are helping the fires spread. As of yesterday, 190,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Southern California.
1. The Lilac Fire — Pala Mesa, CA
December 7th — A helicopter distributes water onto burning homes at the Rancho Monserate Country Club.
2. The Thomas Fire — La Conchita, CA
December 7th — Shane Winton helps spray water on a friend’s property as flames grow closer.
3. The Creek Fire — Los Angeles, CA
December 6th — An antique car is among the destroyed property in LA’s Sylmar neighborhood.
4. The Lilac Fire — Bonsall, CA
December 8th — the spreading Lilac Fire takes another home victim.
5. The Creek Fire —Los Angeles, CA
December 6th — Virginia Padilla lost 29 of her horses when her ranch was destroyed by the Creek Fire.
6. The Thomas Fire — Ventura, CA
December 6th — The Wilsons return to their home to sift through its remnants.
7. The Skirball Fire —Los Angeles, CA
December 6th — Firefighters work to put out flames in one of the multi-million dollar homes affected by the Skirball Fire in LA’s Bel Air neighborhood.
8. The Thomas Fire — La Conchita, CA
December 7th — A La Conchita resident cries as the Thomas Fire approaches.
9. The Thomas Fire — Ojai, CA
December 7th — The Thomas Fire destroys another structure in Ojai.
10. The Lilac Fire — Bonsall, CA
December 7th — The Lilac Fire rages just on the other side of a fence on Camino Del Cielo.
11. The Thomas Fire — Santa Paula, CA
December 5th — The Thomas Fire chars a hillside near Santa Paula.
12. The Thomas Fire — Ventura, CA
December 5th — An entire apartment complex was leveled by the Thomas Fire.
13. The Thomas Fire — Shadow Hills, CA
December 5th — Firefighters watch a structure burn in Shadow Hills.
14. The Thomas Fire — Ventura, CA
December 5th — Burned palm trees are all that’s left of the Hawaiian Village apartment complex.
15. The Skirball Fire —Los Angeles, CA
December 6th — Firefighters protect a multi-million dollar home as the Skirball Fire approaches.
16. The Thomas Fire — Santa Paula, CA
December 5th — A hillside is alight with flames from the Thomas Fire.
17. The Thomas Fire — Ventura, CA
December 5th — The Clearpoint neighborhood has been leveled as a result of the Thomas Fire.
If you or your loved ones have been affected by the Southern California fires, we urge you to follow instructions put in place by local government. Stay safe. Our thoughts are with you.
