<br /> <p>The Whittier Fire in California grew up to 18,000 acres on Sunday, July 16, and was 49 percent contained, according to local reports.</a></p><p>Nearly 2,000 firefighters</a> were battling the fire, in California’s Los Padres National Forest.</p><p>The fire started on July 8 and is burning in an area that has seen no fire since 1955.</p><p>This footage, taken by Effe Barker on July 14, shows large amounts of smoke from the wildfire filling the sky just outside Santa Barbara. Credit: Effe Barker via Storyful</p><br />
