The Thomas Fire—a brush fire that has been burning since Monday evening—has spun out of control in Southern California, namely the city of Santa Paula in Ventura County, engulfing 65,000 acres and causing damage to more than 150 buildings as well as the evacuation of at least 27,000 people. Meanwhile, several other blazes have also made things worst around Los Angeles, with the Rye Fire just 5% contained at 7,000 acres, the Creek Fire engulfing 11,377 acres, and the Skirball Fire threatening buildings like the Getty Museum and Hollywood homes, including the Rupert Murdoch’s mansion.
Fortunately, Google has two maps for residents to plot the various fire events.
Google’s 2017 Statewide Fire Map (embedded below) for California lists active fires in the state—whether they’re contained or not—and is a good way to get a better understanding of how devastating fires like Skirball Fire can be for the Golden State. Clicking or tapping on fires on the map reveals the current condition of each individual blaze, information that is pulled directly from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
For example, the Ventura County fire, also referred to as the Thomas Fire, is currently 0% contained, while about 60 miles east, the Los Angeles County’s Skirball Fire is burning across 50 acres, those they are perilously close to I-405 and the Getty Center.
In addition to the statewide map, the Google Crisis Map (embedded below) could be a great resource for people located near the California fires. Covering wild fires across the entire U.S., the Crisis Map has information that stretches far beyond Southern California, but zooming into the Los Angeles area reveals topology and traffic. During the Napa Valley fire in October, Google added shelter information to the map, so check this resource later, if the fires continue to rage on.
With California fires becoming far too common, it can be difficult to keep track of the state’s many blazes. Google’s dynamic maps are worth bookmarking, so you can stay up to date with the latest updates from effected areas in Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and all across Southern California.
