Unrelenting California wildfire threatens thousands of homes

An unrelenting wildfire fanned by hot, dry Santa Ana winds threatened more than 12,000 homes in and around Ventura, California, on Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to race for safety.

The fire, dubbed the Thomas Fire, raged in the foothills above and in the city of Ventura some 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles, fire officials said late on Tuesday, a day after it began. It had charred more than 50,000 acres, they said.

"We are still in the middle of an aggressive and active firefight on the ground," said Robert Welsbie, spokesman for the Ventura Fire Department. "If the winds pick up, we will face quite a challenge."

The fire, which was zero percent contained, was being whipped by unpredictable



Santa Ana winds, which blow in from the California desert. Wind gusts were forecast to top out at 70 miles per hour (115 km per hour) on Wednesday and remain strong through the week.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities or civilian casualties, Welsbie said.

"The public did an outstanding job heeding our evacuation orders, getting out of these danger zones in a very prompt timely manner," Welsbie said.

Some 1,000 firefighters were battling to save homes from the conflagration. One firefighter suffered a minor injury, was treated and released, Welsbie said.

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, freeing state funds and resources to assist.