Hills near Montecito appeared to be covered in lava last night as the catastrophic wildfires raging across California continue to expand.
In photographs taken by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department as it battled to push back the flames near Romero Canyon, the ridges seem to resemble an erupting volcano.
Officials handed out masks to those who stayed behind in Montecito, an exclusive community about 75 miles from Los Angeles that’s home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and Drew Barrymore.
Actor Rob Lowe was among residents who evacuated over the weekend.
This astonishing image appears show hills near Montecito covered in lava as the devastating wildfires raging across California continue to expand. The picture was taken by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and shows fire burning along canyons and ridges above Bella Vista Drive near Romero Canyon
The so-called Thomas fire, one of several burning around the state, has burned over 900 structures, at least 700 of them homes. Another 18,000 buildings are under threat. Pictured: A helicopter drops water over Toro Canyon hillsides north of Santa Barbara yesterday
Officials handed out masks to those who stayed behind in Montecito, an exclusive community about 75 miles from Los Angeles that’s home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and Drew Barrymore. Pictured: A firefighter watches as a blaze rages along Romero Canyon hillsides in Montecito
In photographs taken by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department as it battled to push back the flames near Romero Canyon, the ridges seem to resemble an erupting volcano. Pictured: A firefighter looks over a map from the back of his truck parked off Bella Vista Drive above Montecito
The blaze has stretched across nearly 370 square miles of territory, consuming 236,000 acres, making it the fifth largest in state history. Pictured: An eerie view of the burning hills near Montecito
The haunting, almost apocalyptic was captured as the Golden State struggles to cope with the one of the biggest infernos in its history.
The so-called Thomas fire, one of several burning around the state, has burned over 900 structures, at least 700 of them homes. Another 18,000 buildings are under threat.
It has stretched across nearly 370 square miles of territory, consuming 236,000 acres, making it the fifth largest in state history. It is now over five times the size of the District of Columbia, which is 68 square miles.
Over 7,800 firefighters are working to hold back the blaze, which has now been 25 per cent contained.
The haunting, almost apocalyptic scene comes as the Golden State struggles to cope with the one of the biggest infernos in its history. In this photograph, the Pacific is glowing an ominous orange as a helicopter hovers over a reservoir to fill a bucket with water
The fire has stretched across nearly 370 square miles of territory, consuming 236,000 acres, making it the fifth largest in state history. But surfers still found the time to hit the waves near Carpinteria
Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara appears in an eerie light as wildfire smoke darkens the sunrise during while the Thomas fire blazes across California
The fire straddling Santa Barbara and Ventura counties has burned for ten days, with the cause still being investigated. It has even illuminated the Pacific off the California coast
Elsewhere, fire officials announced that a cooking fire at a homeless encampment sparked a blaze last week that destroyed six homes in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. Pictured: The fire raging at Romero Canyon
A smoke-filled sky filter orange light around surfers as the Thomas Fire continues to grow and threaten communities from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara
Firefighters watch as a fire rages in a Romero Canyon hillside in Montecito. It is still growing, threatening thousands of homes and stranding tens of thousands of evacuees
Yesterday, firefighters finally eked out progress on the titanic task of cutting fire lines around the gigantic conflagration. Pictured: A surfer enjoys a bizarre moment on the glowing waves
Red Flag warnings for fire danger due to Santa Ana winds and a critical lack of moisture were extended into the week, with a possible increase in gusts Thursday into Friday. Pictured: A dog runs along a beach below a smoke-filled sky
Arson investigators determined that the so-called Skirball fire near the world-famous Getty museum was started by an illegal fire at a camp near a freeway underpass, city fire Captain Erik Scott said. Pictured: Men cover their faces near Carpinteria
The fire straddling Santa Barbara and Ventura counties has burned for ten days, with the cause still being investigated.
Yesterday, firefighters finally eked out progress on the titanic task of cutting fire lines around the gigantic conflagration.
But the wildfire is still raging, threatening thousands of homes and stranding tens of thousands of evacuees.
Elsewhere, fire officials announced that a cooking fire at a homeless encampment sparked a blaze last week that destroyed six homes in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Arson investigators determined that the so-called Skirball fire near the world-famous Getty museum was started by an illegal fire at a camp near a freeway underpass, city fire Captain Erik Scott said.
The camp was empty when firefighters found it but people apparently had been sleeping and cooking there for at least several days, he said.
A fire truck drives up Romero Canyon to a house surrounded by smoke from the Thomas Fire in Montecito as California battles against a devastating blaze
The hills above Santa Barbara are shrouded in smoke from the Thomas Fire. Actor Rob Lowe was among residents who were evacuated from nearby Montecito over the weekend
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a member of a Santa Barbara County Fire Crew keeps an eye on a bulldozer building a fire break in the hills above Bella Vista Drive in Montecito
A valley is filled with smoke from the Thomas Fire in Carpinteria as fire crews battle to push back the catastrophic inferno
Visitors wearing masks walk to protect themselves from smoke and ash from the Thomas Fire walk on State Street, the main shopping street in Santa Barbara
Evacuations continued for the seaside enclaves of Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria and the inland agricultural town of Fillmore. Pictured: The Romero Canyon ablaze yesterday
Back at the largest of the wildfires, firefighters protected foothill homes while the fire grew mostly into forest land, Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said.
Red Flag warnings for fire danger due to Santa Ana winds and a critical lack of moisture were extended into the week, with a possible increase in gusts Thursday into Friday.
Evacuations continued for the seaside enclaves of Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria and the inland agricultural town of Fillmore.
The charred remains of vehicles at a home in the Toro Canyon hillsides north of Santa Barbara yesterday
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Eric Burdon and his wife, Marianna, of Ojai were among the people who fled the smoke Tuesday. Last week, Burdon wrote on Facebook about having to flee and returning temporarily to find their home still standing with ashes all around. Pictured: A dolphin statue is seen at a property destroyed by the Thomas Fire in Carpintera
This satellite image taken on December 12, 2017, and released by NASA and NOAA, shows the Thomas Fire between Santa Barbara and Ventura
Residents near a Carpinteria avocado orchard said the trees could end up saving their homes. Pictured: A firefighter unrolls fresh hoses in Ventura
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Eric Burdon and his wife, Marianna, of Ojai were among the people who fled the smoke Tuesday. Last week, Burdon wrote on Facebook about having to flee and returning temporarily to find their home still standing with ashes all around.
‘A week like this gives you the perspective that life is what truly matters,’ he wrote.
A photo accompanying the post showed his handprint and signature written in ashes.
Residents near a Carpinteria avocado orchard said the trees could end up saving their homes.
‘You have a thick layer of leaves underneath the bottom and they are watered regularly, so it’s like a sponge,’ Jeff Dreyer, who lives nearby, told KEYT-TV. ‘So the fire gets to the sponge full of water and it slows it down.’