LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- New evacuation orders were issued on Saturday as the Thomas fire, which is now ranked as the third largest wildfire in modern history of the U.S. state of California, threatened a wealthy community northwest of Los Angeles.
Kelly Hoover, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokeswoman, said hundreds of crews were dispatched to the unincorporated Santa Barbara County community of Montecito, checking door to door and ordering residents to leave the evacuation zone.
Fueling by strong Santa Ana winds which were predicted to hit the area through Sunday with gusts of 65 mph (110 kph), the Thomas fire moved northward fast Saturday morning and flame has been seen on top of hills over the town.
Montecito is a small oceanside city located between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific seashore with about 20,000 residents. Enditem
