Firefi­ghters have been able to secure the Santa Barbar­a side of the fireLOS ANGELES: Strong wind gusts on Thursday may challenge crews battling a sprawling wildfire in Southern California which threatens to become the biggest in state history. But wind gusts from the north were expected to accelerate to 80 km per hour on Thursday morning, creating extreme fire danger conditions for Santa Barbara County, the National Weather Service said. Ventura County, which has taken the brunt of the fire, is likely to experience 64 to 80 kph winds on Thursday and Friday, it said. Firefighters have been able to secure the Santa Barbara side of the fire, Battalion Chief Chris Childers of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said during a community meeting on Wednesday night. One firefighter died last Thursday near the town of Fillmore in Ventura County.

Source: The Express Tribune December 21, 2017 10:52 UTC