Thomas fire

Residents in Ventura, Calif., believed large hilltop water tanks would provide ample water during a wildfire. But the water stopped flowing for some residents trying to protect their homes during 2017's Thomas Fire.

Unanswered Questions Leave Californians Worried About Fire Season

12:00pm August 20, 2019

by Stephanie O'Neill

Warm temperatures have Californians again bracing for wildfires. But to better prepare, the residents of Ventura say they need a clearer picture of what went wrong in the destructive 2017 Thomas Fire.

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A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the Thomas fire leap above the roadway north of Ventura, Calif., in December 2017. Hundreds of homes were destroyed in what was then California's most destructive wildfire.

Fire-Resistant Is Not Fire-Proof, California Homeowners Discover

7:57am December 09, 2018

by Emily Guerin

California has some of the strictest building codes in the country for homes built in areas with wildfire risk. But recent fires show that even the most fire-resistant homes will burn.

Flames from the Thomas Fire burn in the hills above Carpinteria, California, Dec. 11, 2017.

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Southern California Edison Says Its Equipment May Have Helped Start Thomas Fire

7:25am October 31, 2018

by Emily Sullivan

Witnesses say that the fire started at two different places — with one of the points of origin near an SCE power pole, according to the utility company.

Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Ryan Thomas hikes down steep terrain rendered barren by the Thomas Fire last month. Authorities announced Friday they had reached 100 percent containment of the fire, which is the largest in modern California history.

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Thomas Fire, California's Largest On Record, Is Now 100 Percent Contained

5:48pm January 12, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

Since last month, the deadly blaze has swept through about 280,000 acres, priming the land for massive and deadly mudslides. Still, Friday's announcement marks a hard-fought win for firefighters.

In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, CAL FIRE Inmate Firefighting Hand Crew members hike through the charred landscape on their way to work east of Gibraltar Road above Montecito, Calif., earlier this wee.

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Thomas Fire Is Now California's Largest Wildfire In History

3:29am December 23, 2017

by Doreen McCallister

State fire officials say the fire burning in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties is bigger than the previous record holder — the 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego County that killed 15 people.

Firefighters dig trenches in an effort to stop the advancement of a forest fire in Concepción, Chile, in January.

What Does 'Containing A Fire' Really Mean?

6:20am December 21, 2017

by Benjamin Purper

As California battles raging wildfires, "containment" is a term used often by firefighters and in media coverage. But how does it work?

A firefighter snaps a quick picture amid efforts to contain the Thomas Fire in Montecito, Calif., earlier this month.

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As Winds Rise Once More, Firefighters Fear 'Flare-Up' In Massive Thomas Blaze

5:47pm December 20, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

Lately, firefighters had seen a rare lull in the conditions that helped fan the Thomas Fire into the second-largest wildfire in modern California history. The forecast looks far less kind.

Christmas decorations illuminate a house as the growing Thomas Fire advances toward Santa Barbara County seaside communities.

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After A Wildfire, Making A Holiday Among The Ashes

1:52pm December 20, 2017

by Leila Fadel

Hundreds of families in Southern California who have lost their homes to the Thomas Fire are trying to find a way to celebrate Christmas.

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Two Weeks In, Firefighters Battle To Save Homes From Southern California Wildfires

6:42pm December 17, 2017

by Leila Fadel

The Thomas Fire in Southern California is on it's way to being the largest in the state's history. Fourteen days in, the flames continue to burn in bone dry, windy conditions. It's burning above the wealthy areas of Santa Barbara County, it's only 40 percent contained and will likely burn for days to come.

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Firefighter Dies in California Wildfire, Now The 4th Largest In The State's History

11:29pm December 14, 2017

by Richard Gonzales

The Thomas Fire has claimed more than 249,500 acres and over 700 homes. Officials say it won't be contained until January.