Science

Before-and-after photos show how Ventura County has been ravaged by the wildfire

Jeremy Berke

2017-12-15T14:17:00Z

ventura fires — Linda and John Keasler pose for a photo in front of the ruins of their home in Ventura, California. AP Photo/Amanda Lee Myers

Ventura, a seaside town on California's coast, has been utterly destroyed by the wildfires that have ravaged Southern California in recent weeks.

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The Thomas Fire, which is burning over 240,000 acres as of Thursday, has leveled homes, apartments, and hospitals as it swept through Ventura. Thousands of firefighters battled the blaze, though it remains only 30% contained.

The current blaze has been fed by dry, powerful winds and an uncharacteristic lack of precipitation. But the destruction in Ventura is part of a scary trend — severe wildfires in California have increased in frequency over the last two decades.

Here are some of the most striking images of the damage:

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This is what the Vista del Mar hospital in Ventura used to look like. The facility burned to the ground on December 5 after the Thomas Fire swept through the area.

vista del mar hospital before — The Vista del Mar hospital in Ventura before it burned to the ground. Vista del Mar

After the fire passed through, smoke rose from the smoldering remains of this building at Vista Del Mar Hospital.

ventura fires — Smoke rises from the smoldering remains of a building at Vista Del Mar Hospital after the Thomas Fire swept through Ventura, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. AP Photo/Amanda Lee Myers

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Here's what some of the residential streets in Ventura were like before the fire, as captured by Google Street View.

ventura california — A residential street in Ventura before the fires. Google Maps/ Screenshot

Richie Fredell, 38, a paramedic, lost his childhood home on a similar street in Ventura.

ventura county fires — Richie Fredell, 38, a paramedic, looks at the remains of his childhood home in Ventura, California, U.S. December 8, 2017. REUTERS/Ben Gruber

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The remains of another home are seen after it burned to the ground on December 6.

California wildfires — The remains of a home are seen, after it burned to the ground, during a wind-driven wildfire in Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017 REUTERS/Mike Blake

The Hawaiian Village apartment complex in Ventura was completely destroyed in the fire.

Hawaiian Village ventura california — The Hawaiian Village apartment complex, seen before the fire. Google Maps/ Screenshot

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A firefighter sprayed water on the remains of the Hawaiian Village apartments on December 5.

Ventura CA Thomas Fire — A firefighter sprays water on the remains of the Hawaiian Village apartments after a wind-driven wildfire swept into the city of Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Linda and John Keasler lived in the Hawaiian Village Apartments, the ruins of which are behind them. "It is sad. We loved this place. We lost everything," John Keasler, 65, told the Associated Press.

ventura fires — Linda and John Keasler pose for a photo in front of the ruins of their home in Ventura, California. AP Photo/Amanda Lee Myers

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Ventura was known for its prime, ocean-front real estate.

beachfront homes in Ventura — Beachfront homes seen in Ventura before the fires. Google Maps/ Screenshot

A number of those beachfront homes burned to the ground when the fire reached the Pacific coast.

california fire — The remains of homes are seen, after they burned to the ground, during a wind-driven wildfire in Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017 REUTERS/Mike Blake

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Paul and Erica Mattesich embraced before sifting through rubble of their home on December 8.

ventura fires — Paul and Erica Mattesich embrace before sifting through rubble at their Ventura, Calif., home on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. AP Photo/Noah Berger

Here's another view of a fairly typical residential street in Ventura before the fires.

ventura california — A residential street in Ventura before the fires. Google Maps/ Screenshot

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The Thomas Fire destroyed over 1,000 structures, many of them private homes.

ventura fire damage — A real estate sign post is seen next to the remains of a home, after it burned to the ground, during a wind-driven wildfire in Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Plenty of residents lost everything to the blaze.

ventura county fires — The remains of a home are seen, after it burned to the ground, during a wind-driven wildfire in Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

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Houses were reduced to ashes and rubble.

ventura county fires — The remains of a home are seen, after it burned to the ground, during a wind-driven wildfire in Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Ventura has burned in the past, but each time, the town finds a way to rebuild.

ventura california — A residential street in Ventura before the fires. Google Maps/ Screenshot

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Paul Mattesich handed a jar to his wife Erica Mattesich while sifting through what remains of his family's home.

ventura california — Paul Mattesich hands a jar to his wife Erica Mattesich while sifting through rubble at his family's Ventura, Calif., home following a wildfire on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. AP Photo/Noah Berger

Bree Laubacher sifted through rubble at her house as well.

california fires — Bree Laubacher pauses while sifting through rubble at her Ventura, Calif., home following a wildfire on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. AP Photo/Noah Berger

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Ventura california — Hills in Ventura County seen before the fires. Google Maps/ Screenshot

The Thomas Fire has moved outside of populated areas, though it continues to burn the mountains of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. This canyon was scorched.

ventura county fires — A burnt canyon shows the path after a wind-driven wildfire took into the city of Ventura, California, U.S., December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

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It's difficult for firefighters to control the blaze in the dry, remote hillsides, so helicopters are dropping water on the flames to keep them from reaching more homes. Nearly a quarter of a million acres continue to burn as of Thursday.

ventura fires — A helicopter drops water while trying to keep a wildfire from jumping Santa Ana Road near Ventura, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. AP Photo/Noah Berger

California

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