LOS ANGELES: A firefighter was killed while battling a massive wildfire burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, fire officials said on Thursday. The conflagration advanced again overnight to surpass the Zaca Fire, which struck Santa Barbara County in 2007, charring 240,000 acres (97,120 hectares). Many public schools in the Santa Barbara area canceled classes this week and will not reopen until the annual winter break ends in January. Some of the other fires burning over the past week in San Diego and Los Angeles counties have largely been brought under control. Thomas wildfire burns above Bella Vista Drive near Romero Canyon in this social media photo by Santa Barbara County Fire Department in Montecito, California, U.S. Dec 12, 2017.

Source: New Strait Times December 14, 2017 23:26 UTC