How to help California fire victims in Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego

Multiple wildfires continue to burn throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties in Southern California.
The largest blaze — known as the Thomas Fire — began last week in Ventura County and burned more than 200,000 acres.
Santa Ana winds have pushed the Thomas Fire into Santa Barbara County, threatening the seaside communities of Carpenteria, Summerland, and Montecito.

A series of wildfires last week scorched more than 260,000 acres in Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties in Southern California. The first and largest blaze, dubbed the Thomas Fire, started December 4 in Ventura County and has moved North, becoming a threat to Santa Barbara County.

Here are the numbers as of Tuesday morning, according to Los Angeles County officials and Cal Fire, a state fire-safety agency:

Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties:
Skirball Fire in Bel Air:
Lilac Fire in San Diego County:
Rye Fire in Santa Clarita:
Creek Fire in Sylmar:

The Thomas Fire had grown to more than 65,000 acres in two days and destroyed at least 150 structures out of at least 12,000 threatened in Ventura and Ojai. The fire grew by 50,000 acres on Sunday as dry Santa Ana winds continued, triggering evacuation orders throughout Santa Barbara County. One death has been blamed on the Thomas Fire: the body of 70-year-old Virginia Pesola was discovered at a car crash site on an evacuation route in Ventura County on Wednesday night, according to NBC.

As many as 200,000 people had been displaced in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and authorities closed — and then reopened — parts of the 405 Freeway on Wednesday last week, causing gridlock throughout the region. More than 50 schools were closed in the Los Angeles area through the end of the week.

Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency, freeing up state funds to help tackle the wildfires.

"This fire is very dangerous and spreading rapidly, but we'll continue to tackle it with all we've got," Brown said. "It's critical residents stay ready and evacuate immediately if told to do so."

Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen told reporters that the fires' growth had been "absolutely exponential."

Here are a few ways you can help: