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Powerful Winds Threaten To Make Southern California Fires Even Worse

The Thomas Fire scorched 96,000 acres by Thursday morning, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Powerful Winds Threaten To Make Southern California Fires Even Worse
Getty Images
Briana Koeneman
By Briana Koeneman
SMS
Posted: 10:32 a.m. EST Dec 7, 2017

Powerful winds could make a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California even worse.

According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the Thomas Fire had scorched 96,000 acres by Thursday morning, thanks in part to unusually strong Santa Ana winds in the area.

And meteorologists say those winds are expected to get even stronger, with gusts up to 80 miles per hour.

Hundreds of personnel are working to get the flames under control. As of Thursday morning, the Thomas Fire was only 5 percent contained.