Eerie drone footage shows path of California’s deadly Thomas Fire

Footage has captured the unprecedented destruction caused by the ongoing California wildfires.

Devastation from the California wildfires. Source: Twitter ‘@latimes’. Video shot by Brian van der Brug

Drone footage over Ventura, northwest of Los Angeles, has followed the path of the deadly 'Thomas Fire' that has wreaked havoc in California and forced tens of thousands of locals to flee.

The wildfires that began on December 4 are now the largest in the state's recorded history, as firefighters work to contain the blazes.

The eerie footage from videographer Brian van der Brug pictures a suburban street in Ventura that has been completely wiped out by the fires.

Cars drive through empty neighbourhoods as houses can be seen burned to the ground. Only charred ashes remain in parts of the coastal town.

The hilly and windy streets surrounding Ventura are barren with scorched trees. The footage finishes as the drone enters an area on the outskirts of the fire.

Humboldt County fire crews hose down residual heat inside a home that was destroyed by the Thomas Fire on December 17, 2017 Source: Getty

The Thomas Fire has destroyed more than 281,000 acres, 1,063 homes, businesses and other structures.

One firefighter died trying to contain the fire in Southern California and a 70-year-old woman was killed as a result of the blaze, according to authorities. The fire is now 88 per cent contained.

Humboldt County firefighters Lonnie Risling, left, and Jimmy McHaffie, right, spray down smoldering fire. Source: Getty