Thomas Fire: Day 10
Today marks day 10 of the Thomas Fire (named as such because it started near Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula), which began at approximately 6:30 pm on December 4 in Ventura County.
The weather cooperated last night and we did not have sundowner winds as expected. Firefighters made progress in holding the fire in the backcountry, with minimal new acreage burned.
Thomas Fire details:
- 237,500 acres
- 25% contained
- 900+ structures destroyed
- 18,000 structures threatened
- 100,000 residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders with another 30,000 under evacuation warning
- no change in the mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders previously issued for parts of Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County
Fire Resources:
- 7,956 firefighters with more on the way
- 152 hand crews
- 983 fire engines
- 6 fixed wing aircraft
- 2 air tankers arriving today
- 28 helicopters (2 helicopters will be flying through the night)
- 79 dozers
- 52 water tenders
- Cost of $55.6 million and rising
Intermittent power outages may continue throughout the day and possibly into tomorrow. Please note: Emergency generators remain “locked on” at the hospital, so there will be no disruption in service.
The air quality warning remains in effect. Air filtration systems at our hospitals, Grotenhuis Pediatric Clinics, and associated Cottage Health buildings, continue to remove air particulates so there is no need to wear a mask while in the buildings. (Unfortunately we are unable to eliminate the smell of smoke.) N95 masks continue to be available to all inpatients at discharge, as well as employees and physicians.
Distribution sites for free N95 masks for the community:
- Carpinteria Albertson’s, 10 am – 4 pm
- Goleta Costco, 10 am – 2 pm (our Children’s Miracle Network partner)
- Goleta Valley Community Center, 1 – 7 pm (kids masks available here)
- Goleta City Hall, 8 am – 5 pm
- Franklin Community Center, 10 am – 2 pm
- SB Public Library, 10 am – 7 pm
- Lompoc Home Depot, 10 am – 2 pm
- Buellton CVS, 8 am – 10 pm
Updates:
- SB County
- SB County en español
- Radio Bronco 101.7 FM en español (our Children’s Miracle Network partner)
- Ventura County