Ventura County fire explodes to 55K acres, emergency declared as homes burn

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- The wind-driven Thomas Fire exploded to 55,000 acres - or 70 square miles - with zero percent containment by Tuesday afternoon, destroying at least 150 structures, according to Ventura County fire officials.

Multiple homes in the area of Scenic Way Drive in Ventura could be seen burning from the air. In downtown Ventura, the Hawaiian Village apartment complex was engulfed in flames.

Other homes on High Point Drive above Foothill Road in Ventura were burning as embers blown by whipping winds filled the air.

By the evening hours, the blaze had jumped the 101 Freeway near Solimar Beach, which is located between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The freeway remained open.

MORE: Evacuation orders, road closures for Thomas Fire in Ventura County

During the day, a small brush fire burned nearby in an area south of Wildwood Park. The fire was sized up at two acres, but had the potential to grow to 10-20 acres, according to Ventura County fire officials. Homes were possibly threatened.

Vista del Mar Hospital, a behavioral health care facility in Ventura, was razed to the ground by the blaze, ABC7 reporter Sid Garcia confirmed from the scene. All patients and staff were evacuated Monday night.

More than 7,000 homes in Ventura County were under mandatory evacuation as the blaze closed in on downtown Ventura, where multiple structures were reportedly burning. Fire officials said 27,000 people were evacuated from their residences.

The city of Ventura imposed a curfew on residents until the state of emergency is lifted. The curfew, effective 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. prohibits people from being out in public places of the city, including streets and parks. The curfew was established to help protect people as well as limit looting in evacuation areas, officials said