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The GazetteDecember 5, 2017 | updated 9 years ago
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. Authorities said the blaze broke out Monday and grew wildly in the hours that followed, consuming vegetation that hasn't burned in decades. (Ryan Cullom/Ventura County Fire Department via AP) (Ryan Cullom)
Raked by ferocious Santa Ana winds, explosive wildfires on the edge of Los Angeles and in the foothills outside the city burned a psychiatric hospital and scores of other structures Tuesday and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. One of the blazes broke out Monday in Ventura County and grew wildly. A smaller fire erupted on the northern edge of Los Angeles, threatening the Sylmar and Lakeview Terrace neighborhoods.
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, firefighters work to put out a blaze burning homes early Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. Authorities said the blaze broke out Monday and grew wildly in the hours that followed, consuming vegetation that hasn’t burned in decades. (Ryan Cullom/Ventura County Fire Department via AP) (Ryan Cullom)Flames from a wildfire loom up over a neighborhood in Santa Paula, Calf., Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. Ventura County fire officials say the blaze broke out Monday east of Santa Paula, a city of 30,000 people about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Powerful winds are pushing the blaze west toward the city along Highway 150, which is shut down. (Megan Diskin/The Ventura County Star via AP) (Megan Diskin)A structure is engulfed in flames in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious Santa Ana winds raking Southern California whipped explosive wildfires Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of homes. (Daniel Dreifuss via AP) (Daniel Dreifuss)The sun breaks through dense smoke over fire-damaged structures in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious Santa Ana winds raking Southern California whipped explosive wildfires Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of homes. (Daniel Dreifuss via AP) (Daniel Dreifuss)A firefighter stands under windswept palm trees as he hoses down smoldering debris in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious Santa Ana winds raking Southern California whipped explosive wildfires Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of homes. (Daniel Dreifuss via AP) (Daniel Dreifuss)Fire authorities gather at the command center near Hansen Dam in San Fernando Valley to work on a plan to fight the wildfire burning though the area in Los Angeles on Tuesday Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious Santa Ana winds raking Southern California whipped explosive wildfires Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of homes. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel)A San Bernardino County Firefighter hoses down hot spots while battling a wildfire in the Cajon Pass near Devore, Calif., Wednesday July 5, 2017. (James Quigg/The Daily Press via AP) (James Quigg)Seen from Carpinteria, Calif., smoke from a wildfire billows over Ventura, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)An apartment complex burns as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)A man watches as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)A man rides his bike past a home consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)A firefighter tries to keep flames from spreading while battling a wildfire in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)Flames consume a home on Via Arroyo as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)Smoke rises behind a leveled apartment complex as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Over 100 structures have burned so far in Ventura County, officials said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)Flames rise as a home is consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious winds in Southern California have whipped up explosive wildfires, burning a psychiatric hospital and scores of other structures. (AP Photo/Jae Hong) (Jae C. Hong)Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious winds in Southern California have whipped up explosive wildfires, burning a psychiatric hospital and scores of other structures. (AP Photo/Jae Hong) (Jae Hong)A skater navigates the beach trail in Santa Monica, Calif., as smoke from a wildfire in the San Gabriel Mountains covers a large portion of the Los Angeles Tuesday morning, Dec. 5, 2017 (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) (Reed Saxon)Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious winds in Southern California have whipped up explosive wildfires, burning a psychiatric hospital and scores of other structures. (AP Photo/Jae Hong) (Jae C. Hong)A house is consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. Authorities said the blaze broke out Monday and grew wildly in the hours that followed, consuming vegetation that hasn’t burned in decades. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)Smoke from the Creek wildfire in the San Gabriel Mountains, the second range behind the Hollywood Hills, home of the Hollywood sign, looms up over Los Angeles Tuesday morning, Dec. 5, 2017 (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) (Reed Saxon)Flames consume a home on Via Arroyo as a wildfire rages in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)A firefighter passes Christmas decorations while battling a wildfire in Ventura, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Noah Berger)A firefighter hoses down smoldering debris in Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Ferocious Santa Ana winds raking Southern California whipped explosive wildfires Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders for thousands of homes. (Daniel Dreifuss via AP) (Daniel Dreifuss)A man walks past a home consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)A burned-out car sits amid the ruins of a home after a fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Daniel Dreifuss via AP) (Daniel Dreifuss)A house is consumed by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. Authorities said the blaze broke out Monday and grew wildly in the hours that followed, consuming vegetation that hasn’t burned in decades. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)Greg Smith stands amid the ruins of his home after the Thomas fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Daniel Dreifuss via AP) (Daniel Dreifuss)The sun is seen through thick smoke generated by a wildfire Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Santa Paula, Calif. Raked by ferocious Santa Ana winds, explosive wildfires northwest of Los Angeles and in the city’s foothills burned a psychiatric hospital and scores of homes and other structures Tuesday and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)A wildfire continues to burn as its red glow is reflected on the beach Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. Raked by ferocious Santa Ana winds, explosive wildfires northwest of Los Angeles and in the city’s foothills burned a psychiatric hospital and scores of homes Tuesday and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)Firefighters put out a wildfire burning in an orchard Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Santa Paula, Calif. Raked by ferocious Santa Ana winds, explosive wildfires northwest of Los Angeles and in the city’s foothills burned a psychiatric hospital and scores of homes and other structures Tuesday and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)Los Angeles County firefighters battle a wildfire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (Chris Carlson)
