CA Fires Latest: 'Had To Chew​ The Air Before You Breathed It'

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Although the worst day for Santa Ana winds is in the rearview mirror, the six major wildfires relentlessly tearing across Southern California are far from over. While firefighters have contained some 25-percent of the flames, the diagnosis still looks bleak – it will take at least another week to completely extinguish the blazes.

The fires continue to destroy everything in their path, with the latest count at 500 buildings and 141,000 acres burned, displacing 190,000 Southlanders and threatening 23,000 homes. Over 5,000 firefighters from around California and neighboring states are here to battle mother nature's wild rampage.

"You had to chew the air before you breathed it," Shane Nollsch, a Nevada firefighter who travelled to Ventura to help combat the flames, told Washington Post.

Southern California is in a state of emergency, as entire cities flee and residents across Southern California are preparing for more unforeseen evacuations and road closures. Thursday's Santa Ana winds were in full force, pushing the uncontrollable wildfires closer to new neighborhoods and prompting new evacuations.

In an apocalyptic nightmare, police officers were seen driving down the streets in Ventura County shouting warnings to residents through a megaphone.

"We're running on adrenaline," one Ventura resident told Fox11 while hosing down a dry tree outside her home.

"We all have friends whose houses have been burning down, it's a lot to handle," another bystander said.

Luckily, the flames have only taken two lives thus far – a woman's body was found in an Ojai burn area, and another person died in a brushfire that broke out in Northern San Diego County Thursday. Officials credit the low death count to life-saving evacuations and lessons learned from October's catastrophic wildfires in Northern California that killed more than 40 people.

The evacuations, however, often came with little notice – many didn't have time to pack precious belongings. When some residents near the Skirball Fire were allowed to briefly return home to gather their things, they saw the flames had knocked on their door while they were gone.

Terri Greenbaum's home of 15 years had survived, but the flames came so close, her doormat melted. "That's how close the flames got," she told the Los Angeles Times.

"My husband and I threw our clothes and computers into the car and left," she told the newspaper. "I was a little worried when I saw the firetruck outside when I was coming up, but my home is fine for now."

Schools across the Southland are closing or remain closed Friday, as the heavy smoke is causing dangerous air qualities abound. Amtrak also announced the suspension of train service between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County Thursday as a result of the wildfire.

Six wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties:

Thomas Fire

The Thomas fire continues to actively burn across Ventura County, including north and west towards Santa Barbara County, growing to 132,000 acres overnight and only 10 percent contained Friday morning. The blaze had destroyed 401 Ventura structures and damaged at least 81 more by Thursday evening, authorities said. Twelve additional structures were destroyed in unincorporated areas of Ventura County, according to Los Angeles Times.

The unincorporated areas of Ventura County, Matilija Canyon, and Las Padres National Forest remain threatened, VCFD said. There are a total of 3,528 emergency personnel assigned to the Thomas Fire, including: 21 helicopters, 544 engines, and 48 hand crews. Over 15,000 total structures are threatened due to Thomas Fire flames, including buildings in various parts of Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Carpenteria, the Ventura County Fire Department said. The cause is still under investigation.

"We're trying to get the word out to everybody that lives along the coast that they really need to start thinking about [evacuating] right now," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. "Make sure your car's gassed up, make sure your irreplaceable documents, photographs, all that stuff, box it up. Even if you don't load your car up, just have it ready to go."

Read more: Ventura County Fire – 132,000 Acres Burned, 10% Contained

Skirball Fire

Thousands of Skirball Fire evacuees returned home starting Thursday night. Many were stunned to see just how close they came to losing everything.

Firefighters managed to contain fire's destruction to 475 acres Thursday, halting all forward progress and fighting off flames that threatened multi-million dollar homes in Bel-Air. The blaze destroyed four homes and damaged 12 others while prompting the evacuation of about 700 homes and an apartment building. It was 30 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Many were just glad they made it out, including dozens of retired nuns living at the Carondelet Center in the Sepulveda Pass. The Sisters of St. Joseph were forced to evacuate, and they were taken in by nursing homes around the region, but many simply went home with the center's staff the Los Angeles Times reported.

“We don’t want to take the risk and put them through this again if we’re asked to evacuate again,” nursing home administrator Sister Anne McMullen told the Times. “So this was the safest and most comfortable option we could think of.”

Constance Fitzgerald, 104, and her younger sister Ann Fitzgerald, 102, were moved to the Nazareth House in Culver City.

“I’m more concerned for people whose homes were in the path of the fire,” Ann told the newspaper.
Despite Thursday's strong Santa Ana winds, lesser gusts allowed firefighters to make progress containing the blaze. One firefighter suffered neck burns and was treated at a hospital, authorities said.

Read more: Skirball Fire – Evacuations Lifted, Thousands Come Home

Creek Fire

After three tense days of waiting and worrying, residents in the path of the 15,323-acre Creek Fire returned home Thursday night to see what was left. As of 8 a.m. Friday, the fire had destroyed 33 homes and 32 outbuildings, damaged another 28 homes and 19 outbuildings and scorched 15,323 acres, Cal Fire reported. The fire is reportedly 40 percent contained Friday.

For many, relief to be home was tempered with sorrow for the loss and devastation suffered by neighbors. At least 30 homes were destroyed or damaged. 1,700 firefighters continue to battle active flames. Dozens of families lost their cars and homes, and now must figure out how to salvage what is left.

The region's evacuation orders were lifted late Thursday afternoon for most of the Creek Fire-affected area, with the exception of parts of the Shadow Hills and Riverwood neighborhoods, as well as the Limekiln Canyon area. Three firefighters suffered what were considered to be minor injuries Tuesday.

The fire broke out at 3:42 a.m. Tuesday scorched 15,323 acres, according to Cal Fire.

Read more: Relief And Sorrow Slam Returning Creek Fire Evacuees

Rye Fire

The Rye Fire in Santa Clarita, which has been burning since Tuesday, reached 35 percent containment Friday morning with 6,049 acres scorched. This is a 20-percent improvement from Thursday, but Cal Fire is predicting that full containment won't be reached until next Friday.

All evacuations and road closures issued due to the fire have been lifted, and the College of the Canyons evacuation site has been deactivated, officials said. About 900 firefighters from Ventura and Los Angeles County fire departments were on scene attacking the fire Thursday, Cal Fire officials said.

The blaze broke out about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday near the 2500 block of Rye Canyon Loop, and – driven by gusty Santa Ana winds – has scorched 7,000 acres, destroyed one structure, threatened 5,460 others, and caused burn injuries to a firefighter, authorities said. The firefighter, who may have been an inmate, was airlifted to a burn center for treatment.

Read More: Rye Fire 35% Contained, But Fire Crews Brace For Week-Long Battle

Lilac Fire

A fast-moving wildfire continues to burn through San Diego County as firefighters battle the blaze. The Lilac Fire remains at 4,100 acres and is still 0 percent contained as of Friday morning, according to Cal Fire, but the number of destroyed structures has jumped from 20 to 65. Thousands of additional structures are threatened, with multiple roads and schools closed, and the fire has forced widespread evacuations in northern San Diego County.

At least six injuries have been reported, including a firefighter who dislocated a shoulder and another who was treated for smoke inhalation. Three civilians sustained burn injuries of unknown severity, while another suffered from smoke inhalation.

The blaze sparked shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Old Highway 395 and Dulin Road in Bonsall, burning brush near Interstate 15 and State Route 76. The flames spread quickly after the fire started as gusty Santa Ana winds slammed the region.

Read more: Lilac Fire: 4,100 Acres Burned, 0% Contained In San Diego County

Murrieta Liberty Fire

The Liberty Fire in Murrieta continued to burn Friday morning at 300 acres, with 60% contained. So far, the fast-moving brush fire has burned one structure and six outbuildings. The fire broke out in the Murrieta area Thursday, destroying structures and prompting the evacuation of several homes before nightfall. The fire was first reported at 1:14 p.m. and prompted Murrieta school officials to let several area students go home early — and subsequently cancel classes at all schools in the Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley unified school districts for Friday.

Within the first three hours of breaking out, the Liberty Fire was estimated at 300 acres in size and at least two structures had burned. As of the most fire update from officials, the fire remained at an estimated 300 acres as of 9 p.m., with 10 percent containment.

The fire broke out close to homes, in the unincorporated area of Riverside County at the Murrieta city border. It didn't take long to enter Murrieta city limits. The blaze sent a massive smoke plume through the region as it burned out of control. More than 300 firefighters were sent to the scene from 61 engine companies.

"We are receiving a report of a vegetation fire in the area of Los Alamos and Liberty," Murrieta police said on Facebook at 1:20 p.m. "Please avoid the area to allow emergency personnel access to the area."

Read more: Liberty Fire – Murrieta Blaze At 300 Acres, All Schools Canceled

This is a developing story; Please refresh the page for updates

Thomas Fire Photo: Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along the 101 freeway on December 7, 2017 north of Ventura, California. The firefighters occasionally used a flare device to burn-off brush close to the roadside. Strong Santa Ana winds are rapidly pushing multiple wildfires across the region, expanding across tens of thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of homes and structures. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images/Getty Images North America)

Lilac Fire Photo by Mark Ritter, Murrieta area resident; Liberty Fire Photo by Patch staffer Maggie Avants