Thomas Fire Grows to Nearly 395 Square Miles

The fourth-largest fire in California history grew overnight to 252,500 acres as hot, dry winds continued to fan the flames, though crews managed to increase containment slightly to 35 percent.

The Thomas Fire has raged for 11 days in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, destroying at least 700 homes, forcing thousands to evacuate and on Thursday claiming the life of a San Diego firefighter.

Cal Fire engineer Cory Iverson, 32, died while he was on the fire line. Officials have not released any further details about the circumstances of his death. Iverson is survived by his 2-year-old daughter and his wife, who is expecting their second child.

Cal Fire's Scott McLean said Iverson's death was devastating.

"I mean, this was an individual who passed away on the fire lines protecting life, safety. ... This will be definitely a trying time," McLean told KPCC.

Last week, a 70-year-old woman was killed in a car crash while she was trying to get out of an evacuation area.

At least six major wildfires have broken out since last Monday, and all were fueled by a combination of unseasonably warm temperatures, high winds and low humidity.

A Red Flag warning was first issued on Dec. 2 and has since been extended four times.

The National Weather Service says it's the longest stretch for such a warning to be in effect for Southern California since the agency started keeping track in 2004. The period of elevated fire danger was set to expire at 10 a.m. Friday.

More than 8,000 people are still working to contain the sprawling fire.

Click here for KPCC's updated list of evacuations and school closures.