Forecasters say high winds will bring rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity. USA TODAY
Horses and other animals displaced by the Lilac fire in San Diego County find shelter at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Southern California. USA TODAY
Firefighters were still working in communities north of San Diego Friday that were hit by a fast-moving wildfire. The blaze tore through the area Thursday as powerful winds are still fanning flames across Southern California. (Dec. 8) AP
Wildfires continue to destroy land and homes in Southern California. Months of dry conditions and whipping Santa Ana winds have created the perfect equation for devastation. USA TODAY
At least 65 structures have been destroyed by a wildfire in semi-rural north San Diego County. Cal Fire also says there's still no containment of the fire early Friday. Trees were charred for miles along Highway 76. (Dec. 8) AP
California's biggest wildfire forced evacuations in Faria Beach, a small community on the coast between Ventura and Santa Barbara. (Dec. 8) AP
The massive wildfire in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles, grew to 180 square miles and destroyed more than 400 buildings by late Thursday. It's forcing the evacuation of communities between Ventura and Santa Barbara. (Dec. 8) AP
A Cal Fire Division Chief says a fire near San Diego destroyed 20 homes and damaged 12 more. The fire tore through mobile homes in a retirement community. The blaze is heading west towards the Ocean, threatening Oceanside and Camp Pendleton. (Dec. 8) AP
Four active wildfires in southern California have caused people and pets alike to seek shelter. USA TODAY
Six separate wildfires are threatening millions of people in one of the country's most densely populated areas. USA TODAY
Firefighters continue battle to control the Skirball Fire near downtown Los Angeles. The blaze is 20 percent contained around 475 acres with flare ups in the Bel-Air Crest area. (Dec. 7) AP
Authorities closed a major freeway Thursday as flames from the Southern California wildfire jumped lanes and threatened beach front homes. (Dec. 7) AP
Anthony Reyes, best known for pitching the Cardinals to a Game 1 victory in the 2006 World Series, is on the front lines fighting the Californian wildfires. Time_Sports
One brave man has become a viral hero after witnesses captured him coming extremely close to danger himself while rescuing a rabbit from the wildfires ravaging California Time
Darlene Jordon has lived in this home above the city of Ventura, California, for more than two decades. Her house was filled with memories and souvenirs. But it’s all gone now after a raging wildfire reduced it to ash and rubble. (Dec. 7) AP
This was startling scene along Interstate 405 in Los Angeles as a wildfire engulfed the hills. USA TODAY
Flames erupted Wednesday in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood as multimillion-dollar houses and modest tract homes alike came under siege from an outbreak of wind-whipped wildfires across Southern California. (Dec. 6) AP
Southern California officials are warning of unprecedented dangerous winds on Thursday, with gusts possibly reaching 80 mph. The region is dealing with several massive wildfires that have around 200,000 under evacuation orders. (Dec. 7) AP
At least one person has died as a result of the fast-spreading wildfire plaguing more than tens of thousands of acres in southern California Time
Ferocious winds in Southern California whipped up an explosive wildfire that forced thousands of homes to evacuate and could soon threaten a city of more than 100,000, authorities said. Time
Residents of Santa Rosa, California were allowed to return Friday to areas ravaged by recent wildfires. Officials say more than eight thousand structures were destroyed by flames that tore through the region in Northern California. (Oct. 20) AP
Dramatic cell phone video along a busy Los Angeles freeway shows flames from a raging wildfire burning along hillsides early Wednesday. Officials say hundreds of structures may have been lost in wildfires burning across Southern California. (Dec. 6) AP
Firefighters in southern California are working overtime to protect homes in Los Angeles. A new wildfire broke out in some of Los Angeles' most exclusive neighborhoods, which includes the upscale Bel Air Estates. USA TODAY
As drivers headed down the 405 freeway, they were met with giant flames from the several fires burning in Southern California. USA TODAY
Nearly 200,000 people have been told to evacuate from three massive wildfires in southern California. Many people fleeing the flames are bringing along their animals. (Dec. 6) AP
Wildfires driven by winds approaching hurricane force swept across Southern California Monday night into Tuesday, scorching thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of structures - from Ventura County to communities north of Los Angeles. (Dec. 5) AP
Authorities are urging tens of thousands of people to flee their homes as wind-driven wildfires scour communities northwest of Los Angeles. Two fires have burned about 30 homes and are being pushed by Santa Ana gusts. (Dec. 5) AP
According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the Thomas Fire was first reported Monday evening north of the city of Santa Paula. Video provided by Newsy Newslook
Wildfires driven by winds approaching hurricane force swept across Southern California Monday night into Tuesday, scorching thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of structures - from Ventura County to communities north of Los Angeles. (Dec. 5) AP
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in an exclusive ridge-top neighborhood in Los Angeles as a dangerous new wildfire burns in Southern California. At least two homes are burning in that area. (Dec. 6) AP
Authorities estimate a wind-driven Southern California wildfire has grown to more than 70 square miles. (Dec. 5) AP
Whipping Santa Ana winds are playing a huge role in how quickly the Thomas Fire is spreading across Ventura County, California. Fire officials say it's a "very bad scenario." USA TODAY
Wildfires in Southern California have triggered evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. The fires remain mostly out of control. (Dec. 6) AP
Thousands of homes have been evacuated after a wind-whipped wildfire exploded overnight in Southern California. The fire has burned through at least 40 square miles northwest of Los Angeles. (Dec. 5) AP
High winds expected to increase fire threat
Displaced horses from wildfires find shelter
Wildfire Ravages Calif. Retirement Community
Fire and smoke dominate Southern California skylines
Newest California fire burns 65 structures
Raw: Calif. wildfire forces evacuations along coast
Raw: Biggest California fire burns 180 Sq. miles
Fire near San Diego destroys 20 structures
California wildfires cause people and their animals to flee
Wildfires sweeping Southern California put millions on edge
LA Mayor: Fire near downtown 20 percent contained
Highway travel disrupted by Calif. wildfire
Former Cardinals Pitcher Anthony Reyes Fighting California Wildfires
Man rescues rabbit from California wildfire
Fire victim: 'This is what's left of our house'
Dramatic L.A. wildfire video looks like driving into hell
Raw: Crews fight to Save Bel-Air homes from fire
Powerful winds boost California fire danger
Devastating wildfires strike Southern California
Southern California wildfire has forced thousands to evacuate
Calif. Evacuees Stunned By Wildfire Devastation
Motorists witness wildfire near L.A. freeway
Firefighters battle flames just feet from LA homes
Wildfires turn California freeway into wall of flames
People, animals flee California wildfire
Wildfires destroy homes across southern Calif.
Officials urge southern Calif. residents to flee homes
At least 1 dead As fast-moving Brush fire scorches southern California
Wildfires destroy homes across Southern California
Homes burn as fire breaks out in Los Angeles
Southern Calif. fire grows to 70 square miles
Ventura County wildfire spreading as fast as the wind
Raw: Wildfires rage in Ventura County, Calif.
California fire forces thousands to evacuate
A number of celebrities are fleeing their homes as the blazing wildfires engulf Southern California.
The wind-driven wildfires have threatened more than 25,600 homes and forced evacuations of tens of thousands of residents. The Skirball fire began Wednesday morning near west Los Angeles' Skirball Cultural Center.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
The daytime talk show host tweeted that her home was being threatened by the fires Sunday. "We just had to evacuate our pets," she tweeted. "I’m praying for everyone in our community and thankful to all the incredible firefighters."
"Everyone in the Montecito area is checking up on each other and helping to get people and animals to safety," DeGeneres added in another tweet. "I’m proud to be a part of this community. I’m sending lots of love and gratitude to the fire department and sheriffs."
Kylie Jenner's cosmetics brand
Via Kylie Cosmetics' Twitter account, Jenner's brand said it "has been significantly impacted" by the wildfires Sunday "and had to temporarily shut down our facility to ensure the safety of our staff."
Maria Shriver
Shriver shared Thursday that though she has not had to evacuate, her "area remains on alert" and therefore her bags are "still packed."
Chelsea Handler
The comedian told followers she evacuated her home Wednesday while still taking the opportunity to hurl a jab at the president. "It’s like Donald Trump is setting the world on fire. Literally and figuratively," she tweeted. "Stay safe everyone. Dark times."
Lionel Richie
The Endless Love singer also tweeted Wednesday that he needed to cancel his Las Vegas concert that evening because of the fires, as he was assisting "family evacuate to a safer place."
Paris Hilton
That same day, Nicole Richie's Simple Life co-star shared footage of the flames and informed followers, "My house is now being evacuated to get all of my pets out of there safely."
Lea Michele
The Mayor actress tweeted that she "grabbed what I loved most" Wednesday morning and was "so grateful to my friends for taking us in."
Ariana Grande's family
The Into You singer's mother, Joan Grande, and her brother, actor-singer-YouTube personality Frankie Grande, both tweeted that they had to evacuate. "Thank you to @LAFD for getting us up & alerting us to the evacuation so early & efficiently," Frankie tweeted. "My thoughts & prayers are with everyone affected by these fires."
Jennifer Tilly
The Cult of Chucky actress said Wednesday that she was "Evacuating the wildfires," a decision that appeared many others have been making. "The fourth hotel we tried had a room," she tweeted later that day. "Seems like everyone is evacuating the wildfires. We had to go further east."
Adrienne Maloof
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills castmember said she and her sons were "safe and are taking ourselves and our animals to my mom’s house."
Kyle Richards
Maloof's former reality co-star tweeted that her area was also evacuated adding, "No school for us either."
California wildfires: Why is everything burning?
More: Homes burn as wildfires rage in ritzy Los Angeles neighborhoods
Related: Fire losses in San Diego, Riverside counties push toll total to 500 structures
![Local residents keep watch while fire and smoke from]()
1 of 106![A helicopter drops water while trying to keep a wildfire]()
2 of 106![Firefighters light backfire while trying to keep a]()
3 of 106![CalFire works in Ventura County as efforts continue]()
4 of 106![Fire burns utility poles in Ventura County as efforts]()
5 of 106![Flames rise as a fire front approaches the Lake Casitas]()
6 of 106![National Guard helicopters make water drop as the Thomas]()
7 of 106![Firefighters watch after setting a backfire at night]()
8 of 106![Firefighters set a backfire to make progress against]()
9 of 106![Firefighters put out burning embers from recent Ventura]()
10 of 106![A thank you banner for firefigters is placed on a grass]()
11 of 106![Firefighters monitor the Thomas fire as it burns through]()
12 of 106![A hillside glows with embers as the Thomas fire burns]()
13 of 106![Judy Bell surveys the damage to her home on Dec. 8,]()
14 of 106![A charred snowman holiday display looks out over mobile]()
15 of 106![A holiday display hangs on the side of a mobile home]()
16 of 106![Firefighters rest after protecting mobile homes after]()
17 of 106![Marissa Sherman, left, reacts as she sees the destroyed]()
18 of 106![Dick Marsala looks through debris from his destroyed]()
19 of 106![Firefighters battle the Lilac fire in Bonsall, Calif.,]()
20 of 106![Fire crews search for hot spots among destroyed homes]()
21 of 106![Gary and Eileen Young of Pilgrim Creek rest at the]()
22 of 106![A street destroyed by the Lilac Fire in Rancho Monserate]()
23 of 106![Firefighters monitor a fire beside Highway 33 north]()
24 of 106![Firefighters put out burning embers from the Thomas]()
25 of 106![A photo album damaged by fire is see amid the destruction]()
26 of 106![A wreath hangs on the gate of a burned property at]()
27 of 106![John Knapp examines the damage from the Lilac Fire]()
28 of 106![Firefighter Jason Scott of the Heartland Fire Dept.,]()
29 of 106![Local resident Pal Paricsy looks over the remains of]()
30 of 106![A structure burns at the Lilac Fire early Friday morning]()
31 of 106![Richard Timboe, right, and his son Steve move items]()
32 of 106![A home destroyed by the Lilac Fire is seen in Rancho]()
33 of 106![Dick Marsala looks through debris from his destroyed]()
34 of 106![A firefighter douses a smoldering pile of wood chips]()
35 of 106![A street destroyed by the Lilac Fire in Rancho Monserate]()
36 of 106![Horses that survived the Lilac Fire in their stalls]()
37 of 106![Firefighters break up hotspots in an attempt to halt]()
38 of 106![Firefighter Simon Garcia, of Heartland Fire Dept.,]()
39 of 106![Exhausted firefighters have their first rest in over]()
40 of 106![A plane drops fire retardant on a wildfire Friday,]()
41 of 106![John Knapp's back windshield is covered in red splatters]()
42 of 106![Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along]()
43 of 106![A fire ravaged vechile remains parked in front of fire-affected]()
44 of 106![A man bicycles past bluffs burned in the Thomas Fire]()
45 of 106![Firefighters walk to the fire line at the Lilac fire]()
46 of 106![Volunteers rescue horses at a stable during the Lilac]()
47 of 106![Firefighters walk to the fire line at the Lilac fire]()
48 of 106![The Thomas Fire burns a hillside behind Lake Casitas]()
49 of 106![Christy Woodhams and her son Josh Lowe inspect the]()
50 of 106![Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along]()
51 of 106![Firefighter Mike Warren, part of a Portland, Ore.,]()
52 of 106![The 101 Highway was closed after the Thomas Fire jumped]()
53 of 106![A helicopter drops water while battling the Thomas]()
54 of 106![A group of horse rescuers stages in a parking lot as]()
55 of 106![A firefighter battles a wildfire at Faria State Beach]()
56 of 106![Palm trees sway in a gust of wind as a firefighter]()
57 of 106![Two firefighters watch as a home burns in a wildfire]()
58 of 106![Firefighters work to extinguish the Thomas Fire as]()
59 of 106![The 101 Highway was closed after the Thomas Fire jumped]()
60 of 106![A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the]()
61 of 106![A section of the Thomas Fire burns on a bluff on Dec.]()
62 of 106![Orange County firefighter Robert Bucho tapes off Highway]()
63 of 106![Firefighter Dan Whelan is silhouetted against the sun]()
64 of 106![A woman involved in a traffic accident waits to get]()
65 of 106![A volunteer passes supplies donated to Thomas fire]()
66 of 106![A family wears face masks as they walk through the]()
67 of 106![The Thomas Fire burns near Highway 101 in Ventura,]()
68 of 106![An evacuees from the Thomas Fire rests in the Ventura]()
69 of 106![The Thomas Fire burns near Highway 101 in Ventura,]()
70 of 106![A new wildfire broke out overnight in some of Los Angeles']()
71 of 106![LAFD Captain Scott Quinn coordinates the attack on]()
72 of 106![Dense vegetation along the canyon walls fueled the]()
73 of 106![Firefighters try to save a house in the 1700 block]()
74 of 106![Firefighters work in the Bel Air Estates area of Los]()
75 of 106![A vintage Mercedes sits in ruins along with a burned]()
76 of 106![Firefighters battle flames on Foothill Boulevard in]()
77 of 106![A horse rider heads back to his home as other owners]()
78 of 106![Residents watch fire retardant dropped on an area of]()
79 of 106![As the sun sets, a resident watches the Rye Canyon]()
80 of 106![Los Angeles County firefighters battle flames in Lake]()
81 of 106![Residents gather on Poe Parkway in Stevenson Ranch,]()
82 of 106![Michael and Vonea McQuillam stand beside their house]()
83 of 106![A fireman walks past a totally engulfed burning home]()
84 of 106![A man rides his bike past a home consumed by a wildfire]()
85 of 106![James and Josie Ralstin carry belongings from their]()
86 of 106![The Thomas Fire burns in the hills above Santa Paula]()
87 of 106![Horses are evacuated from a ranch along Kagel Canyon]()
88 of 106![Engineer Brock Harmon from the L.A. Fire Department]()
89 of 106![Firefighters put out flames near a home along Kagel]()
90 of 106![Horses are evacuated during the Creek fire on Dec.]()
91 of 106![A home totally engulfed in flames from the Thomas fire]()
92 of 106![Homeowner Alan Barnard walks past the remains of his]()
93 of 106![As the Hawaiian Village apartments burn a man dodges]()
94 of 106![Smoke from the Creek wildfire in the San Gabriel Mountains,]()
95 of 106![Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura,]()
96 of 106![The Hawaiian Village apartments burn out of control]()
97 of 106![Greg Smith stands amid the ruins of his home after]()
98 of 106![Smoke rises behind a leveled apartment complex as a]()
99 of 106![A firefighter checks damage to a home at Lake View]()
100 of 106![The Thomas Fire burns in the hills above Santa Paula]()
101 of 106![The Thomas Fire burns in the hills near Steckel Park]()
102 of 106![A fire near Santa Paula burns in the background on]()
103 of 106![A home in Ventura goes up in flames as the Thomas Fire]()
104 of 106![Flames totally engulf two homes at the corner of North]()
105 of 106![The Hawaiian Village Apartments burn as a neighborhood]()
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