![\"171206_6737_Fillmore\"](\"http:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/171206_6737_Fillmore.jpg\")
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On Wednesday, December 6, I returned from the island at noon and got a good look at the smoke from the Thomas Fire to the northwest (from Point Mugu and Camarillo). \u00a0It had started on the evening of the 4th, and burned quickly from about Santa Paula to Ventura. \u00a0The Santa Ana winds were down a little today, but were forecast to increase quite a bit later tonight. \u00a0I made a trip to the Fillmore area during the afternoon to check it out and to get some pictures.<\/p>\n
The big smoke plume from the Thomas Fire had diminished considerably now, but an area on the eastern edge (northwest of Fillmore) was somewhat active. \u00a0However, that sputtered, too, as the winds decreased and air attacks took their toll. \u00a0It was great that the fire here was diminishing, but I had missed the really big show 24-36 hours earlier because I was out on the island.<\/p>\n
After dinner, I headed back out to the Fillmore area as my sister said that the fire looked quite active again. \u00a0She lives in Moorpark. \u00a0So back out I went — about 30 miles from home — and I found a decent spot along Highway 126, a few miles west of Fillmore, with a view of the wildfire to my north. \u00a0It was about a mile or two distant. \u00a0The wind was about 15-25 mph, so the fire wasn’t exactly going nuts, but it was active enough to be interesting! \u00a0There were some ranches and homes up in that area, I presume, but I did not observe any burning structures.<\/p>\n
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