Follow the Thomas Fire, Where Is It Now?

We’re opening up this page for edhat readers and our staff to add photos, video, and reports on where the fire is moving. Official fire maps and reports on the fire’s location sometimes isn’t ready until the morning and evening hours, and in that time the fire can move quickly.

Share your official and unofficial reports on what you see and hear. Add your comment below or send us your footage to ed@edhat.com.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017:

5:00 p.m.: An edhat reader reports firefighters just put out a flare-up with retardant at 4:30 p.m., west of Gibraltar Peak. The smoke is now gone at 5:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m.: Crews look to be making a hard stance in Montecito as they prep for the winds tonight. Gibraltar Road and Camino Cielo seem to be areas of concentration. 

Tuesday, December 19, 2017:

10:40 a.m.: While the crew of one Santa Barbara County Fire engine fill their tank from a 3,000 gal portable water source, others work extinguishing stubborn spots nearby off E. Camino Cielo above Montecito. (Mike Eliason video)

#ThomasFire– While the crew of one Santa Barbara County Fire engine fill their tank from a 3,000 gal portable water source, others work extinguishing stubborn spots nearby off E. Camino Cielo above Montecito. pic.twitter.com/ozf5j9XgEd

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) December 19, 2017

7:00 a.m.: Based on the maps from Cal Fire it looks like there wasn’t a whole lot of growth into Santa Barbara. The maps show a decent hot spot in Parma Park and a little south of that. 

Monday, December 18, 2017:

11:30 a.m.: I’ve been hearing a ton of aircraft overhead but can’t see exactly where they’re dropping. Do other edhat readers know?

7:00 a.m.: The below Thomas Fire Progression Map was released from CAL Fire. The map shows spot fires in Parma Park and spots along Gibraltar Road in the area of the 2008 Tea Fire. 

The black line around the fire perimeter shows the containment area, while the red line shows the active fire perimeter and where it spread as of Saturday evening. The map also shows historical fire areas. (Click on the map for a bigger version)

Sunday, December 17, 2017:

3:00 pm: Mike Eliason reports a Skycrane copter is making water drops on a hot spot on E. Camino Cielo.

#ThomasFire– Santa Barbara County Firefighter Josh Gonnion gives his seal of approval to the pilot of a Skycrane copter after making a water drop on a hot spot atop East Camino Cielo. Gonnion and his Strike Team of five engines have been working the fire since it began on Dec.4th pic.twitter.com/jY4fQ3t0A8

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) December 17, 2017

12:20 pm: An edhat reader captures a photo of Parma Park. (Click here for video of Parma Park)

11:15 am: An edhat reader reports fire and smoke seen right below the Tea House, nothing has burned around the area. It must have been smoldering all night and just started a fire. I don’t see any fireman around the smoke. It’s been called into the police dispatch.

11:10 am: Firefighters standing guard and providing structure protection at a home off Gibraltar Road watch as a bucket full of water is dropped from a copter onto a hot spot nearby. (Mike Eliason photos)

10:45 am: A Bombardier 415 Superscooper and a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane make water drops Sunday morning on hot spots along the hillside east of Gibraltar Road. (Mike Eliason photos)

7:00 am: The below Thomas Fire Progression Map was released from CAL Fire at 7am. It appears the fire reached Gibraltar Road and a small section crossed E. Mountain Drive. 

The black line around the fire perimeter shows the containment area, while the red line shows the active fire perimeter and where it spread as of Saturday evening. The map also shows historical fire areas. (Click on the map for a bigger version)

The below maps were provided by an edhat reader. They show the fire’s progression as of 12/16/17 at 3:00 pm

Saturday, December 16, 2017:

10:30 pm: Edhat readers report fire in Parma Park with firefighters in every driveway of homes in the area to protect them.

9:00 pm: An edhat reader reports seeing flames in Mission Canyon. Does anyone else know specifically where?

6:40 pm: Flames burn near power lines in Sycamore Canyon, seen from W. Mountain drive in Montecito (Mike Eliason)

5:30 pm: Fire at Parma Park, live footage on KEYT

5:00 pm: Smoke drifts towards Santa Barbara Airport in the distance while a wind driven spot fire burns on the west side and below Gibraltar Road. (Video by Mike Eliason)

#ThomasFire– Smoke drifts towards Santa Barbara Airport in the distance while a wind driven spot fire burns on the west side and below Gibraltar Road. pic.twitter.com/9i7PYHWGYW

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) December 17, 2017

4:42 pm: Flames churn towards a large fire break near homes along Gibraltar Road north of Santa Barbara. (Video by Mike Eliason)

#ThomasFire– Flames churn towards a large fire break near homes along Gibraltar Road north of Santa Barbara. pic.twitter.com/n2rCEA59po

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) December 17, 2017

3:36 pm: Flames burn as spot fires begin due to winds further down canyon near power lines along the 2900 block of Gibraltar Road. (Video by Mike Eliason)

#ThomasFire– Flames burn as spot fires begin due to winds further down canyon near power lines along the 2900 block of Gibraltar Road. pic.twitter.com/tiUHNkAkmC

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) December 16, 2017

2:35 pm: In the top article photo it shows flames seen in this view from Gibraltar Road at the West Fork of Cold Springs Trail. Wind gusts of up to 52 mph have been recorded in the area using a hand held weather device. (By Mike Eliason)