In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, firefighters keep an eye on flames as pockets of unburned vegetation flare up off Bella Vista Dr. in Montecito, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. After announcing increased containment on the Thomas fire, one of the biggest wildfires in California history, officials Wednesday warned that communities remain at risk and the threat could increase as unpredictable winds whip up again. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on California wildfires (all times local):
7:15 a.m.
The colossal wildfire burning northwest of Los Angeles is now the fourth largest in California history and authorities say it will likely keep growing as increasing winds fan the flames.
State officials said Thursday that the so-called Thomas fire straddling coastal Ventura and Santa Barbara counties now covers 379 square miles (982 square kilometers). That surpasses a blaze that burned inland Santa Barbara County a decade ago.
Some evacuations have been lifted, but authorities say seaside towns including Montecito and Carpinteria remain under threat. The fire is 30 percent contained after destroying 970 structures.
The National Weather Service says extreme fire danger conditions from dry Santa Ana winds could last through the weekend.
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5:30 a.m.
Fire officials hope to lift some evacuations for Southern California's huge wildfire but warn that predicted Santa Ana winds could once again mean danger for communities.
The blaze northwest of Los Angeles is about a third contained and authorities say the risk to the inland agricultural city of Fillmore is diminishing. But coastal enclaves to the west remain under threat Thursday as crews protect hillside homes in Montecito and Carpinteria.
The National Weather Service says extreme fire danger conditions could last through the weekend due to lack of moisture along with a likely increase in wind speeds.
Since the blaze broke out Dec. 4, it has burned more than 372 square miles (965 square kilometers) and destroyed 921 buildings - including at least 700 homes.
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12:30 a.m.
Fire lines have been established around nearly a third of one of the largest wildfires in California history, but danger remains.
Coastal communities in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties were warned Wednesday that they're still at risk if unpredictable winds whip up again and fan the flames.
The National Weather Service extended warnings through Friday of extreme fire danger conditions throughout much of Southern California due to lack of moisture along with a possible increase in wind gust speeds at the end of the week.
To the south in San Diego County, firefighters had come very close to containing another major wildfire. That blaze killed 46 race horses at a training center, and left one of their trainers with serious burns.
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, an engine company from the city of Colton, Calif., operating under mutual aid, keeps watch on pockets of burning and unburned vegetation off Bella Vista Dr. in Montecito, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. After announcing increased containment on the Thomas fire, one of the biggest wildfires in California history, officials Wednesday warned that communities remain at risk and the threat could increase as unpredictable winds whip up again. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a helicopter making a water drop run flies over an infinity pool behind a home off Bella Vista Dr. in Montecito, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. After announcing increased containment on the Thomas fire, one of the biggest wildfires in California history, officials Wednesday warned that communities remain at risk and the threat could increase as unpredictable winds whip up again. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, pockets of unburned vegetation flare up off Bella Vista Dr. in Montecito, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. After announcing increased containment on the Thomas fire, one of the biggest wildfires in California history, officials Wednesday warned that communities remain at risk and the threat could increase as unpredictable winds whip up again. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, fire burns canyons and ridges above Bella Vista Drive near Romero Canyon as the fight to contain a wildfire continues in Montecito, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. The fifth-largest wildfire in California history expanded Tuesday, ripping through dry brush atop a coastal ridge while crews struggled to keep flames from roaring down into neighborhoods amid fears of renewed winds. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
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In this photo released by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a dozer is used to carry rolls of fire hose across a canyon from atop Camino Cielo down to Gibraltar to make a stand should the fire move that direction, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in the Santa Ynez Mountains area of Santa Barbara, Calif. Southern California firefighters contained part of the Thomas fire, the fifth-largest wildfire in the state's history but warned coastal communities Wednesday that they're still at risk if unpredictable winds whip up again and fan the flames. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press
This photo released by Santa Barbara County Fire Department shows firemen in the process of clearing a fire break and laying ten thousand feet of hose across a canyon from atop Camino Cielo down to Gibraltar to make a stand should the fire move in that direction Wednesday Dec. 13, 2017, in the Santa Ynez Mountains area of Santa Barbara, Calif. Southern California firefighters contained part of the Thomas fire, the fifth-largest wildfire in the state's history but warned coastal communities Wednesday that they're still at risk if unpredictable winds whip up again and fan the flames. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo released by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a dozer from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department clears a fire break across a canyon from atop Camino Cielo down to Gibraltar to make a stand should the fire move in that direction, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in the Santa Ynez Mountains area of Santa Barbara, Calif. State fire officials predicted Wednesday night that the Thomas Fire northwest of Los Angeles will continue to grow as it eats up parched brush and hot, dry weather continues. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
The Associated Press