A wildfire has swept through the city of Ventura, burning 45,500 acres and forcing more than 27,000 people to evacuate. The fast-moving, wind-fueled fire, dubbed the Thomas Fire, has destroyed homes and businesses — including at least one large apartment complex, the Vista Del Mar Hospital, and a psychiatric facility — as it spreads. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the area.
Ventura County officials asked for eight fixed-wing firefighting aircraft to help douse the flames, according to The Los Angeles Times. Power outages affected the firefighters’ ability to fight the blaze, because some pumping systems and fire hydrants were inoperable. About 1,000 fire fighters are currently at work and so far, there are no fatalities. Unpredictable Santa Ana winds are forecast to top out at 70 miles per hour on Wednesday and remain strong all week.
John Bain and Brandon Baker take cover from the embers as they try to help stop a fire from burning a stranger’s home on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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A firefighter looks at a house burnt to the ground during the Thomas wildfire in Ventura, California on December 5, 2017.
Fast-moving, wind-fueled brush fire exploded to about 10,000 acres in Ventura County Monday night, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes, officials said. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Smoke from the Thomas Fire rises over a residential neighborhood on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. Thousands have been evacuated and many surrounding towns are without power as the fire continues to grow. (Photo by Byba Sepit/Getty Images)
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Smoke from the Thomas Fire rises over a residential neighborhood on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. Thousands have been evacuated and many surrounding towns are without power as the fire continues to grow. (Photo by Byba Sepit/Getty Images)
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A house burns to the ground during the Thomas wildfire in Ventura, California on December 5, 2017.
Fast-moving, wind-fueled brush fire exploded to about 10,000 acres in Ventura County Monday night, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes, officials said. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Smoke blows out of the burning palm trees as brush fire threaten homes on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Strangers band together to help put out a palm tree on fire and stop it from burning homes as brush fire move to threaten structures on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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John Bain and Brandon Baker take cover from the embers as they try to help stop a fire from burning a stranger’s home on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Firefighters work to put out flames after it has engulfed a home on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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A mansion burns as a brush fire continues to threaten homes on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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A family pack up and evacuate as a brushfire get closer to their home on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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A brushfire moving with the wind sends embers all over the place in residential neighborhoods north of on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Al Galileo helps water down a backyard of a stranger’s home as brush fire encroaches on the property on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Firefighters work to control the western side of Grant Park as brushfire engulf most of the vegetation on the hill, on December 5, 2017 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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