(above) Thomas Fire near Fillmore on Thursday, December 7, 12:52pm. On Monday, December 4th at approximately 6:28pm the Thomas Fire began north of Santa Paula, Highway 150 and Highway 126. As of December 13th 2017, 12:20pm the Thomas Fire has threatened 18000 structures, 921 structures destroyed and 200 structures damaged. 237,500 acres have burned and the fire is 25% contained. Agencies currently assisting in the Thomas Fire: CAL FIRE, Ventura County Fire, Ventura County Sheriff, Santa Barbara County Fire, Santa Barbara County Sheriff, City of Ventura Fire Department, City of Ventura Police Department, USFS/Los Padres National Forest, CAL OES, Red Cross, Southern California Edison, CHP, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, SoCaGas, Crimson Pipeline, Wildfire Defense Systems, CA Resources Group, Santa Paula Police, Santa Paula Fire, Fillmore Fire, Ventura County OES, and Santa Barbara OEM. There are over 7,956 fire personnel battling the Thomas Fire, 983 engines, 152 fire crews, 27 helicopters, 67 dozers, and 52 Water Tankers.

Thomas Fire from South Mountain Road.

The view from Sisar Peak Sunday, December 10th 1:30pm (webcam)

Photo by Bob Crum

Photo by Bob Crum

Photo by Bob Crum

Photo by Bob Crum

Photo by Bob Crum

Firefighters began staging a portable fire retardant base in North Fillmore on Goodenough Road over the past weekend. The base is being used by helicopters to load Phos-Chek Retardant to fight the Thomas Fire north of Fillmore in the Los Padres National Forest.