Tag Archives | Santa Barbara County

Photo: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times As the photo above shows, the Santa Barbara wildfire was pretty scary yesterday; today it’s even more so. Those erratic and strong sundowner winds kicked up last night and the wildfire exploded again, burning more acres, homes, and forcing thousands to grab what they could and evacuate. Photo: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times Acting Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Andrew DiMizio described it best:”…last night all hell broke loose.” This morning, officials say the number of acres scorched has reached 3,500 along... Read More →

Photo: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times Fire crews took advantage of the calmer winds today and aggressively attacked that Santa Barbara wildfire on the ground and from the air. Tonight, the number of acres scorched was up from 13-hundred to 27-hundred. Many homes were saved, but 75 were damaged or destroyed by the flames. Also, more than 13-thousand people have been evacuated. Earlier in the day, we got an update on those three injured firefighters flown to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks yesterday. Their condition was upgraded from serious to good. A total of 10 firefighters... Read More →

Photo: Lawrence K. Ho/ Los Angeles Times Strong winds whipped that wildfire in the foothills of Santa Barbara into a firestorm late today. The powerful winds, known as sundowners, reached 50 miles an hour and higher in some areas. Eight thousand people  were evacuated, at least 500 acres charred, and at least 20 homes have burned to the ground. Photo: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times KNX 1070 newsradio says several firefighters have been injured; three from Ventura County were airlifted to Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks tonight. So far, no... Read More →

  Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times — A Montecito home is destroyed by last Thursday’s wildfire.   Late today, officials announced last week’s destructive wildfire in Santa Barbara County was caused by a bonfire in the Tea House Garden area above the upscale enclave, Montecito. Some young people reportedly created the bonfire and thought they had put it out before they left. Sundowner winds of 70 miles an hour apparently whipped some of the remains of that bonfire into a firestorm on Thursday night.  More than 210 homes, including one owned by actor Christopher Lloyd, were... Read More →

  Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times A home burns in Montecito last night Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County as a massive out-of-control wildfire rages through some wealthy and exclusive neighborhoods. The fire kicked-up last night around 6 p.m. in the Tea House Garden area in the foothills of Montecito. Sundowner winds in the area reached up to 70 miles an hour — destroying at least 100 homes and forcing more than five thousand people to evacuate.  Montecito is a favorite of the rich and famous.... Read More →