SANTA PAULA, Calif. (KGTV) -- Firefighters are battling a fast-moving brush fire reportedly threatening structures along the Santa Paula-Ojai border.
The brush fire - dubbed the Thomas Fire - quickly consumed 500 acres shortly after it started around 6 p.m. As of 9:30 p.m. more than 5,000 acres were consumed and the flames continued to move quickly, fueled by the Santa Ana winds.
Just before 11 p.m., the Ventura County Fire Department tweeted that the fire had consumed more than 10,000 acres and was expected to reach East Ventura by 1 a.m.
Power outages are affecting areas across Ventura County. In Ventura at least 100,00 people are without power. In Santa Barbara at least 50,000 are without power.
#ThomasFire - Incident Command expect this fire to impact East Ventura by 1 AM. Updated acreage is now 10,000 acres. #VCFD @VCFD
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 5, 2017
The fire was reported near State Route 150 and Thomas Aquinas College. Several structures are being threatened by the fire and at least 400 homes are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Part of the 150 freeway has been shutdown.
The #Thomasfire burning along Ojai / Santa Paula Road, Santa Paula. @VCFD @VCSOVentura pic.twitter.com/cvOGd2VzyN
— VenturaCoAirUnit (@VCAirUnit) December 5, 2017
#ThomasFire updated acreage is 5000 acres. Incident commander expects this fire to impact the city of Ventura this evening. @VCFD #VCFD
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 5, 2017
#ThomasFire This is an updated perimeter map. This fire is burning in steep terrain with 25 to 30 mph wind. #VCFD @VCFD pic.twitter.com/S4IVeWRInU
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) December 5, 2017
