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Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Thomas Fire, the third largest in California's history, has destroyed homes in the city of Montecito. The massive blaze has burned 270,500 acres since it formed on Dec. 4 and is 45 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
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About 8,000 structures were threatened by the Thomas Fire, which has already destroyed 1,026 structures, including 756 homes, and damaged 242 more.
"If you hold the compass up, it burned north to south, right down the canyons -- Romero, Cold Spring Canyon -- and it burned in and around a number of homes," apt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority said.
Evacuations were lifted for portions of Santa Barbara County on Monday, but were in place for the foothill areas of Carpinteria as well as Montecito.
More than 8,500 firefighters have worked to combat the Thomas Fire, the largest mobilization of fire crews to fight any wildfire in California history.
The firefight has cost $130 million and it is not expected to be fully contained until Jan. 7, by which time some experts say it could become California's largest fire.
Two people have died in the Thomas Fire, including fire apparatus engineer Cory Iverson, whose body was escorted to San Diego in a funeral procession on Sunday.
The 15,619-acre Creek Fire also burned Monday about 4 miles east of Symlar, as firefighters brought it up to 98 percent containment.
Heavy winds that have spurred the blazes on are expected to between 10 mph and 20 mph on Monday and Tuesday, coupled with increased humidity that will aid firefighters.
