SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Firefighters have “reached the halfway point in their attempt to corral a massive wildfire” in Southern California, according to the latest reporting from the Associated Press. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) noted that the Thomas Fire affecting Ventura County and Santa Barbara County was 60% contained as of Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. The blaze is currently the second largest in state history.
CAL FIRE anticipates the Thomas Fire will be contained by Jan. 7, 2018, in its latest update.
Various media outlets, such as The New York Times, have reported that the tourism industry in Southern California is starting to bounce back following the wildfires and San Diego County has fully recovered.
Visit California, the statewide DMO, compiled a list of resources on its website and said that “visitors who are planning a trip to the area should contact their hotel and local CVB for updates on closures.”
Visit Santa Barbara posted the following update on its website:
“Throughout the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta, most major attractions and many businesses are open. Many events are also proceeding as planned. Several attractions and businesses that were closed previously have since reopened. However, since some businesses, attractions and events may have been impacted, if you are currently in Santa Barbara or planning to come this week, please call in advance to check on the status.”
More information is available on the Visit Santa Barbara website. For breaking news coverage of the SoCal wildfires, follow https://apnews.com/tag/Wildfires for the latest from the Associated Press.
