Wildfire threatens several thousand homes in Southern California

Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes on Monday as firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California that has charred at least 45,500 acres of land, authorities said.

Ventura County Fire Department/EPA

The 'Thomas Fire' has already burned 31,000 acres and has forced more than 25,000 people to evacuate

Intensified by strong winds and harsh weather conditions, the fire was affecting structures in downtown Ventura early Tuesday, with multiple homes on fire near City Hall. Emergency officials originally said a person died in the fire but later clarified that a dog was killed.

L.A. County Deputy Fire Chief David Richardson described the unpredictable conditions that firefighters are facing as they attempt to contain the blaze.

"You can only imagine the impact this weather is having on the fire front," he said. "We're chasing the fire and trying to get ahead of it. And we're chasing multiple fronts."

Authorities have gone door-to-door to impose mandatory evacuations.

So far, about 2,500 homes were under mandatory evacuation in Ventura County as the flames moved southwest toward the coast. Officials said several thousand homes in nearby areas were evacuated because of the fire, although they cautioned that was a rough estimate. 

 "The prospects for containment really are not good. Mother Nature is going to decide when we have the ability to put it out, because it is pushing hard with the wind," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said Monday evening.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wildfire-threatens-thousands-homes-southern-california/story?id=51581020