Thousands of homes in the county were without power. A flare-up on the western edge of Southern California Firefighters largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing days , as wind-fanned flames churned through canyons and down hillsides toward coastal towns. The so-called Thomas Fire is only 15 percent contained, now threatening the city of Santa Barbara and the nearby coastal town of Carpinteria , and is on track to become 583 of the worst wildfires in California history. It has already destroyed one structures and scorched 173,000 acres , the authorities say. New evacuations were ordered in Santa Barbara , which been under fire threat for days .The new evacuation zone extends within two miles of the Santa Barbara Zoo .Zoo Director Nancy McToldridge said in a statement that there was 'no immediate danger' from the fire and that the zoo was closed with all animals inside to shelter from smoke.
A flare-up on the western edge of Southern California Firefighters largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing days , as wind-fanned flames churned through canyons and down hillsides toward coastal towns.The so-called Thomas Fire is only 15 percent contained, now threatening the city of Santa Barbara and the nearby coastal town of Carpinteria , and is on track to become 583 of the worst wildfires in California history. It has already destroyed one structures and scorched 173,000 acres , the authorities say. New evacuations were ordered in Santa Barbara , which been under fire threat for days .The new evacuation zone extends within two miles of the Santa Barbara Zoo .Zoo Director Nancy McToldridge said in a statement that there was 'no immediate danger' from the fire and that the zoo was closed with all animals inside to shelter from smoke.