Over 6 000 firefighters battling southern California blaze

 Thousands of firefighters were battling one of the most destructive wildfires in California's history on Monday as it crept relentlessly up the Pacific coast and forced new evacuations. As a wildfire near Los Angeles was brought under control, fire crews were being redeployed to battle the Thomas Fire northwest of America's second-largest city. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were assisting nearly 6 400 firefighters trying to keep the Thomas Fire away from beachfront towns south of the historic city of Santa Barbara, the California Fire Department (Cal Fire) said.

"Gusty northeast winds will cause the fire to threaten areas of the city of Santa Barbara", which has a population of 91 000, Cal Fire said.
Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, said he did not see any immediate respite to the dry, windy conditions that are fueling the blaze.
"The conditions are very critical," Boldt said. "Given that we don't see any precipitation for the next two weeks at minimum, it could become the largest fire in the state's history."
The Thomas Fire has burned 230 500 acres (93 300 hectares) since it erupted a week ago, Cal Fire said, making it the fifth-largest fire in the state's history. It was only 15% contained as of early afternoon on Monday. The blaze spread over the weekend in the mostly uninhabited Los Padres National Forest, and was threatening the coastal towns of Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted for the inland cities of Ojai and Santa Paula in Ventura County, which has been the hardest hit by the Thomas Fire.
Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was among those preparing to flee her beachfront home.
"Our house is under threat of being burned," DeGeneres said on Twitter. "We just had to evacuate our pets.
"I'm praying for everyone in our community and thankful to all the incredible firefighters."
"Praying for my town," actor Rob Lowe, a Santa Barbara County resident, wrote on Twitter. Fires closing in. Firefighters making brave stands. Could go either way. Packing to evacuate now."
Despite the intensity of the fires stretching from north of Los Angeles down to San Diego, authorities have reported only one fatality – a 70-year-old woman who died in a car crash while fleeing a blaze. California Governor Jerry Brown has warned that climate change meant the state was becoming increasingly vulnerable and wildfires were becoming the "new normal".
This has been California's deadliest year ever for wildfires. More than 40 people died in October when fires swept through the state's wine-producing counties north of San Francisco. Trump has issued a state of emergency for California, authorizing the release of federal funds. The White House said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue briefed the president and Vice President Mike Pence on the response to the wildfires and prevention efforts.