Advisory citing critical fire weather conditions is in effect until Friday
At least 95,000 residentshave been evacuated
CNN
—
Firefighters battling the massive Thomas Fire in Southern California have contained 30%of the blaze, but the weary crews have their work cut out for them in the days to come.
Wind gusts and low humidity are giving life to the ravaging blaze – a behemoth larger than New York City – that is destroying and damaging property and prompting mandatory and voluntary evacuations.
The inferno threatens Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and surrounding areas, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
Relief from the parched and blustery weather won’t be in sight for several days.
“The dry spell looks to sustain itself for at least the next week,” said CNN meteorologist Michael Guy. “But some long-range models project some rain relief coming by Christmas which would be a welcome gift for the firefighters and residents of the region. This is still a long way out, so we will keep monitoring it for any changes.”
Months without rain: It has been more than 250 days since rain was recorded in the part of Ventura County where the Thomas Fire sparked on December 4, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.
Devastation: Seven hundred and one single-family residences, 12 commercial structures and 182 minor structures have been destroyed.
Red flag warning: An advisory citing critical fire weather conditions is in effect until 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET) Friday.
Wind: Gusts could reach 40 mph or higher in parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Humidity: Levels will still be extremely low with low recovery in the overnight hours. Temperatures will remain in the upper 70s and low 80s. Santa Ana wind advisories are possible by the end of the week.
The Thomas Fire burns Monday in the hills above homes in Montecito in Santa Barbara County.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Evacuations: At least 95,000 residentshave been evacuated in Southern California, Cal Fire said.
Death toll: There has been one death in the Thomas Fire. Authorities said they believe Virginia Pesola, 70, of Santa Paula died in a crash while fleeing the fire. Her body was found last Wednesday.
More than 1,000 structures destroyed
The Thomas Fire is one of six major wildfires torching Southern California. The fires have destroyed more than 1,000 structures since igniting.
The blazes vary in size, but together, they are larger than the cities of New York and Boston combined, or bigger than Singapore.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/AP
Flames from a back-firing operation rise behind a home off Ladera Lane near Bella Vista Drive in Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday, December 14. Powerful Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions are fueling wildfires in Southern California in what has been a devastating year for such natural disasters in the state.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
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Fire, smoke and ash from the Thomas Fire blanket Santa Barbara on Wednesday, December 13.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
David McNew/Getty Images
A smoke-filled sky filters sunlight to orange around a surfer as the Thomas Fire continues to grow and threaten communities from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara on Tuesday, December 12, in Carpinteria, California.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
People watch as firefighters battle flames in Carpinteria, California, on Monday, December 11.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP
As smoke obscures the sun, a Coulson C-130 air tanker turns to make a drop on a Carpinteria hillside on December 11.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
As the Thomas Fire burns in the background, Dan Bellaart and his wife, Mary McEwen, comfort each other in their backyard in Montecito, California, on December 11.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Thomas Fire burns in the mountains near Carpinteria on Sunday, December 10.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP
Firefighters battle a wildfire as it advances on homes in Carpinteria on December 10.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Al Seib/LA Times via Getty Images
A cloud of smoke overshadows downtown Ventura, California, on December 10.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
Horses are evacuated from the Laughing Dog Ranch as smoke from the Thomas Fire descends on the area in Ojai, California, on Saturday, December 9.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Marcus Yam/LA Times via Getty Images
The shell of a burnt-out bus is seen after fire swept through residential neighborhoods near Ojai on Friday, December 8.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
David McNew/Getty Images
Flames rise as a fire approaches the Lake Casitas area of Ojai on December 8.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
A burnt Mercedes is seen after the Skirball Fire swept through the Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel-Air on Thursday, December 7.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Jae C. Hong/AP
Palm trees sway in a gust of wind as a firefighter carries a hose in Ventura on December 7.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Residents watch the Thomas Fire burn a hillside above La Conchita, California, on December 7.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Jae C. Hong/AP
Fires surround a hilltop mansion in Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 6.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Sarah Reingewirtz/Los Angeles Daily News via ZUMA Wire
"Daddy, the home is gone," Amanda Lewis tells her family on December 6. The Thomas Fire raged through her parents' foothill neighborhood in Ventura.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Nasa/Planet Pix via ZUMA Wire
Smoke rises across Southern California in this image taken from the International Space Station on December 6.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Reed Saxon/AP
A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter makes a water drop on flames after the Skirball Fire swept through Bel-Air on December 6.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Noah Berger/AP
Flames from the Thomas Fire burn above a truck north of Ventura on December 6.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
MIKE NELSON/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Joyce George, right, comforts neighbor Dawn Reily on December 6. Reily's Ventura home was destroyed by fire.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Noah Berger/AP
Flames consume vehicles in Ventura on Tuesday, December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
Smoke billows from a burning house in Los Angeles as the Creek Fire moves through the area on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Noah Berger/AP
A man watches as a wildfire burns in Ventura on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Mario Tama/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
The Creek Fire burns on a hillside in the Shadow Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Chris Carlson/AP
A firefighter battles a blaze in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Al Seib/LA Times via Getty Images
Antoine Hanna comforts his wife, Tammy, after firefighters saved their home in Ventura on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Noah Berger/AP
This Ventura apartment complex, seen on December 5, was destroyed by fire.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Chris Carlson/AP
A firefighter sprays water at a burning house in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Palm trees burn in Ventura on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Al Seib/LA Times via Getty Images
Ventura County firefighter Aaron Cohen rests on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
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A man prepares to evacuate his house in Santa Paula, California, on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Chris Carlson/AP
A man tries to catch a horse that got loose in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Jae C. Hong/AP
Shrubs burn near a home in Ventura on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Noah Berger/AP
James and Josie Ralstin carry belongings retrieved from their home in Ventura on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
Ryan Cullom/AP
Firefighters work to put out a blaze engulfing homes in Ventura on December 5.
Photos: Wildfires spread in Southern California
KYLE GRILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
The Thomas Fire burns along a hillside near Santa Paula on December 5.
One of the fires, named Skirball, was caused by an “illegal cooking fire at an encampment in a brush area” near where Sepulveda Boulevard crosses under the San Diego Freeway, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. No arrests have been made.
The Skirball Fire, which broke out a week ago, consumed more than 400 acres, destroyed six homes and damaged 12 others, the fire department said in a statement. It’s 85% contained.
The causes of the other major fires have yet to be determined.
Correction: This story has been revised to give the correct containment percentage for the Thomas Fire.
CNN’s Paul Vercammen, Susannah Cullinane, Ray Sanchez, Carma Hassan, Kyung Lah, Joe Sutton, Dakin Andone and Darran Simon contributed to this report.
