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Wildfire — Ventura County Mountains, California

December 4, 2017 · NOAA Storm Events record

Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
0
Property damage
—
Area
Ventura County Mountains

Event narrative (NOAA)

The Thomas Fire ignited in early December in the coastal valleys of Ventura county, near Thomas Aquinas College. At the time of ignition, fuel conditions were at record dry levels for early December. The combination of gusty Santa Ana winds and the dry fuel conditions allowed the fire to spread quickly across sections of Ventura county. The fire eventually moved into southern Santa Barbara county. The fire was not officially contained until early January 2018. In all, the Thomas Fire burned 281,893 acres, making it the largest recorded fire in the state of California. During the height of the fire, one firefighter died when he was burned over.

Other notable wildfire events in California

Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley · November 8, 201886 killedLos Angeles County San Gabriel Valley · January 7, 202517 killedEst San Gabriel Mountains · January 7, 202517 killedNortheast Foothills/Sacramento Valley · September 7, 202016 killedSan Diego · October 25, 200314 killedMalibu Coast · January 7, 202512 killed

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.

Wildfire — Ventura County Mountains, California, December 4, 2017 | DisasterAtlasUSA