The Santa Barbara County Fire Department posted this photo of one residence engulfed in flames before dawn Sunday. A flare-up on the western edge of Southern California's largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing Sunday, 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 one of the worst wildfires in California history. It has already destroyed 583 structures and scorched 173,000 acres, the authorities say. PHOTOGRAPH BY : 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's largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing Sunday, 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 one of the worst wildfires in California history. It has already destroyed 583 structures and scorched 173,000 acres, the authorities say. PHOTOGRAPH BY: 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.