Thomas Fire grows to 96,000 acres, is 5 percent contained
Update Thursday, 6:50 a.m.
The Thomas Fire grew to 96,000 acres overnight and is still 5 percent contained, Ventura County fire officials said.
The fire reached Highway 101 overnight, and Cal Fire shut the road down between Highway 150 and Highway 126 early Thursday morning. By 7 a.m., southbound traffic was reopened, Caltrans said. Highway 101 northbound remained closed at Highway 126.
Updating information on evacuations and road closures, as well as how to donate to fire victims, can be found at readyventuracounty.org.
2,500 personnel are currently working on the fire, Ventura County fire officials said.
Original story
The Thomas Fire burning in Ventura County grew to 90,000 acres and was 5 percent contained Wednesday night, according to an update from Cal Fire.
More than 30 crews and nearly 1,800 fire personnel are helping fight the blaze, which has reportedly destroyed at least 150 structures, with 12,000 more threatened.
The fire continues to burn actively with extreme rates of spread and long range spotting when pushed by winds, according to Cal Fire.
The fire pushed northwest of Ventura and reached Highway 101 on Wednesday.
“Firefighters continue to work aggressively to protect life and property while working on control efforts around the fire perimeter,” a Cal Fire release said.
The Rye Fire in Los Angeles County has burned 7,000 acres and is 10 percent contained. The Creek Fire, also in Los Angeles County, has burned 12,605 acres and is 5 percent contained.
The Skirball Fire has burned 475 acres, and no update on its containment was available has of 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Lucas Clark: 805-781-7915, @LucasClark_SLO
This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 8:42 PM with the headline "Thomas Fire grows to 96,000 acres, is 5 percent contained."