Thomas Fire, largest fire in California history, 100 percent contained

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Thomas Fire, considered the largest fire in California's modern history, has finally been fully contained.

The U.S. Forest Service confirmed on Friday that the blaze was at 100 percent containment.

The Thomas Fire, which charred 273,400 acres, is now the largest wildfire in modern California history, according to Cal Fire.

Fire officials said the forest closures within the footprint of the Thomas Fire remain in effect until further assessments can be made and deemed safe for the public to re-enter.

Also, the Los Padres National Forest remains closed to the public within the Thomas Fire perimeter on the Santa Barbara and Ojai Ranger Districts. The Sage Hill Group Campground is temporarily closed while fire crews use the area as a base camp, U.S. Forest Service officials said.

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The Forest Service provided a map and additional details regarding the closure of the Los Padres National Forest in the Thomas Fire burn area.

The fire charred 281,893 acres and destroyed 1,063 structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, with most of those being homes.

The fire started on Dec. 4 in the Steckel Park area of Santa Paula near Thomas Aquinas College. Within a few hours, the blaze spread and headed into the city of Ventura, prompting thousands of evacuations.

The inferno claimed the lives of Cory Iverson, a firefighter from San Diego, and a 70-year-old Santa Paula woman who crashed her vehicle while fleeing the blaze.

PHOTOS: Thomas Fire devastates Ventura County

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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