The huge wildfire that led to this week’s devastating debris flows in Montecito is finally 100 percent contained.
The U.S. Forest Service made the announcement Friday after aerial surveys of the 440-square-mile scar left by the Thomas fire.
#ThomasFire [final] north of Santa Paula (Ventura and Santa Barbara County) per @LosPadresNF is now 100% contained at 281,893 acres. https://t.co/y0Mk3zmzH8 pic.twitter.com/6LyjWKpcAy
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) January 12, 2018
The fire erupted Dec. 4 in Ventura County, destroying hundreds of homes before it spread into Santa Barbara County and threatened more communities, including Montecito.
It continued to smolder before a drenching Pacific storm hit bare hills and mountains this week, unleashing debris-laden flash floods that swept away homes and killed at least 17 people.
The Thomas fire was the largest wildfire in recorded California history.
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