In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a Sikorsky S-61 makes a drops fire retardant onto a hillside Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, in San Ysidro Canyon in Montecito, Calif. Red Flag warnings for the critical combination of low humidity and strong winds expired for a swath of Southern California at midmorning but a new warning was scheduled to go into effect Saturday in the fire area due to the predicted return of winds. The so-called Thomas Fire, the fourth-largest in California history, was 35 percent contained after sweeping across more than 394 square miles (1,020 sq. kilometers) of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties since it erupted Dec. 4 a few miles from Thomas Aquinas College. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Latest on wildfires in California (all times local):

7 p.m.

Authorities say the massive wildfire northwest of Los Angeles has burned another 6 square miles (16 square kilometres) of vegetation and has burned 418 square miles (1,083 square kilometres) since it started 12 days ago.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement Saturday that the nearly 8,500 workers are fighting the so-called Thomas fire.

There were no new reports of damage to buildings.

The third largest fire in the state's history has destroyed more than 700 homes and killed a firefighter

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11 a.m.

Santa Barbara County has issued new evacuation orders as a huge wildfire bears down on Montecito and other communities.

The Office of Emergency Services announced the orders Saturday as winds pushed the fire close to the community, a wealthy enclave that's home to Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities.

The mandatory evacuation zone is now 17 miles (27 kilometres) long and up to 5 miles (8 kilometres) wide, extending from coastal mountains northwest of Los Angeles to the ocean.

Winds in the foothill area are hitting around 30 mph 48 kph), with gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph).

The fire has burned more than 700 homes since it began on Dec. 4.

One firefighter was killed Thursday battling the flames.

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10:40 a.m.

A firefighter killed battling a wildfire northwest of Los Angeles died from burns and smoke inhalation.

The Ventura County medical examiner announced autopsy results Saturday for Cory Iverson. However, no other details were released.

The 32-year-old state fire engineer was killed Thursday at the so-called Thomas fire in Ventura County.

That blaze also was blamed for the death last week of a 70-year-old woman who died in a car crash on an evacuation route.

The fire has burned more than 700 homes and currently threatens the wealthy celebrity enclave of Montecito in Santa Barbara County.

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9:15 a.m.

Santa Ana winds are again driving an enormous wildfire that's now surging toward a wealthy community in the coastal mountains northwest of Los Angeles.

The Thomas fire is burning toward Montecito, home to Oprah Winfrey and many other celebrities.

No new evacuations have been called but the National Weather Service says winds in the area are gusting at around 30 mph (48 kph). State fire officials say the blaze is spreading rapidly west.

Saturday is the 13th day that the Weather Service has declared a red flag warning of extreme fire danger because of dry, gusty conditions.

The fire that began on Dec. 4 is already the third-largest in California history. It has destroyed more than 700 homes and killed a firefighter.

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6:50 a.m.

Officials say the massive wildfire that California has been battling since early December is now the third-largest in the state's history, with 405 square miles (1,050 square kilometres) burned so far and the flames only 40 per cent contained.

In terms of acreage consumed, the fire that started on Dec. 4 now exceeds the devastating Rim Fire in 2013 by 2,000 acres (809 hectares).

Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority says the region has had "red flag" conditions for an unprecedented 13 consecutive days. Red flag conditions are when low relative humidity is combined with gusty, strong winds.

Concialdi said, "As of this morning, we're at 259,000 acres and still growing."

1 a.m.

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The fourth-largest wildfire in California history continues to grow and threaten thousands of homes despite armies of fire crews and fleets of bulldozers and aircraft.

The blaze northwest of Los Angeles grew by 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) overnight and although Santa Ana winds eased on Friday, they are expected to return with a vengeance over the weekend. And the fire is so large that winds on one end may be gustier than those on the other side.

The 11-day-old Thomas fire surging through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties had devoured some 400 square miles (1,040 hectares) of brush and timber and burned more than 1,000 buildings, including well over 750 homes.

It also claimed the life of a firefighter Thursday.

Another 18,000 buildings are still in jeopardy, including mansions in the wealthy enclave of Montecito.

The fire is only 35 per cent surrounded despite efforts by some 8,000 firefighters, 32 helicopters and 78 bulldozers.

News from © The Associated Press, 2017