In Santa Barbara, helicopters hovered in gray and smoky skies, and ashes speckled the ground everywhere, said Bonnie Marcus, who lives in an apartment in the eastern part of the city. Many residents, including the couple, found refuge at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, a resort in Goleta, north of Santa Barbara. The Thomas Fire, which broke out Dec. 4 in Ventura County, destroyed multi-million-dollar homes and other structures as well as avocado and lemon orchards there before advancing north up the coast to neighboring Santa Barbara County. As far as Mr. Doubleday knew, the blaze that barreled through the area had not reached their home, protected by a fire line a few hundred yards away. The heroine keeps falling and the monster keeps coming,” said Mr. Doubleday, watching as the smoke-tinged bright red sun lit up the sky over Santa Barbara.

Source: New York Times December 16, 2017 22:07 UTC