The third-largest wildfire in California history continues to grow and threaten thousands of homes despite armies of fire crews and fleets of bulldozers and aircraft. Although Santa Ana winds eased on Friday amid the blaze northwest of Los Angeles, they are expected to return with a vengeance over the weekend. The fire is only 40 per cent contained despite efforts by some 8,000 firefighters from nearly a dozen states, 32 helicopters and 78 bulldozers. Santa Barbara has had only a tiny amount of rain since Oct. 1, the start of the new water year, and is more than 7.6 centimetres below normal to date. Firefighters were facing first northerly "sundowner" winds through the night that could turn into northeasterly Santa Ana winds, driving the flames in another direction.

Source: CBC News December 16, 2017 10:43 UTC