Dec. 23 (UPI) -- About two and a half weeks after it ignited, the Thomas Fire has become the largest fire in California's recorded history, fire officials said.
The blaze has scorched 273,400 acres and is 65 percent contained, as of overnight Friday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It has threatened 18,000 structures, destroyed or damaged nearly 1,000 single family residences and destroyed or damaged a few hundred other structures, the Forest Service said.