California Wildfires Now Fanned By Hurricane-Force Winds

Firefighters trying to keep blazes from spreading throughout the Los Angeles area are now facing hurricane-force winds in addition to flames. At least four major fires had engulfed large tracts of land in the metro area’s north and west, with the Thomas Fire reaching 90,000 acres by Thursday morning. It is only 5% contained, according to Cal Fire authorities, with tempered hopes for progress throughout the day given a surge in the Santa Ana Winds. The winds are expected to reach 80 mph, roughly equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane, and Cal Fire said that there was an “extreme” increase in fire potential stretching south towards San Diego.