Support WBUR

California Fire Chief Raises Threat Level To 'Never Used' Purple

05:25

December 07, 2017

Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along the 101 freeway on Dec. 7, 2017 north of Ventura, Calif. Strong Santa Ana winds are rapidly pushing multiple wildfires across the region, expanding across tens of thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of homes and structures. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

With winds expected at 80 mph, the director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection raised the fire threat level to purple — a critical level never used by the state before.

John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) of KQED is in Ojai, California, and joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson with the latest.

This segment aired on December 7, 2017.