Strong Winds Push Flames Through Montecito Hills

Firefighting crews continued to make slow progress in their efforts to contain Southern California’s massive 259,000 acre Thomas Fire</a> in Montecito, California, on December 16.

After nearly two full weeks of burning through large swathes of the state’s southern region, crews had managed to bring the blaze – the third largest in state history</a> – to 40 percent containment.

Despite the progress, high winds and persisting dry conditions could still mean big advancements for the fire. Officials have said that the northwestern edge of the blaze near Montecito, where these videos were filmed, is still “very dangerous,” according to the LA Times</a>. Credit: Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire via Storyful