California wildfires keep Jon Bernthal from Walker Stalker Convention

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Punisher star and The Walking Dead alum Jon Bernthal says the California wildfires are keeping him from participating as planned in this weekend's Walker Stalker Convention in New Jersey.

"Due to the wildfires in Ventura canyon, my family was forced to evacuate with no determined time in which it would be safe to return. I hate to miss the event but I need to be with my family during this time," the actor said in a statement posted on the event's Facebook page.

Wildfires have been raging in the parched state all week.

The Thomas fire in Ventura County is the largest blaze in Southern California. It spanned 143,000 acres on Friday night, Cal Fire said.