<br /> <p>California resident Matthew Stearns captured a timelapse video of residents evacuating parts of Oxnard on December 5, trying to escape the Thomas Fire.</p><p>The Thomas Fire originated around 6:25 p.m. local time on Monday in the foothills near Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula in Ventura County, according to reports</a>. Heavy winds helped spread the fire and it grew to more than 15 square miles in the hours that followed.</p><p>The Ventura County wildfire has reached over 45,500 acres and has destroyed more than 150 structures. More than 27,000 people were evacuated as of Tuesday morning, according to reports</a>.</p><p>Stearns captured the video as he was making his way home to Oxnard from Ojai Valley Inn and Spa</a>. The luxury resort later closed due to the fire nearby, according to a report by the LA Times</a>. Around 1,000 homes in the Ventura, Santa Paula and Ojai communities have been evacuated due to multiple fires in the surrounding area. Credit: Twitter/Matthew Stearns via Storyful</p><br />
