Firefighters are continuing to work towards total containment of the massive Thomas brush fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
All mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted, and containment is up to 65% to the 272,000 acre blaze.
The number of personnel helping to fight the fire has almost been cut in half, from a peak of more than 8000 to about 4500. While the threat to homes in areas like Santa Barbara’s front country, and Fillmore has been reduced, the fire continues to burn wilderness areas in the Los Padres National Forest.
It’s expected that it will be early January before the fire is 100% contained. The Santa Barbara Zoo reopened yesterday after a five day closure. MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation in Santa Barbara reopened after a more than week long shutdown.
