OJAI: A fierce wildfire raged on north of Los Angeles Sunday, threatening other towns after already charring vast swaths of land, but other blazes were largely contained after burning for days. The so-called Thomas fire is only 15 percent contained, now threatening the city of Santa Barbara and the nearby coastal town of Carpinteria, making it one of the worst wildfires in California history. Conditions remained very dry in southern California, according to the National Weather Service, but strong winds that have fueled the fires for much of the week have eased significantly. US President Donald Trump has issued a state of emergency for California, authorizing the release of federal funds. More than 40 people died in October when fires swept through the state’s wine-producing counties north of San Francisco.

Source: New Strait Times December 10, 2017 21:33 UTC