Spring Break
Thousands flee as fire burns Santa Barbara homes
Raquel Maria Dillon The Associated Press
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: News
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The 2-square-mile fire has forced the evacuation of more than 13,500 people from more than 5,400 homes. It remained out of control and the weather forecast for Thursday afternoon could again drive the flames into expensive homes in this scenic coastal enclave.
More fire crews were called in from around the state to battle the blaze. Ten firefighters were injured, at least three seriously, and the number of evacuees could double later in the day.
"We really can't do any containment lines. It's too dangerous," Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki said. "We're doing some structure protection, but firefighters can be in a safe location one minute and in a dangerous situation the next."
While the morning was cool and breezy, temperatures were expected to top 100 degrees and winds picking up through the day could gust up to 50 mph. Those were the same conditions that drove the tame blaze into ferocious activity Wednesday afternoon.
"Today is a concern to us," Sadecki said. "It could be a mirror of yesterday."
Schwarzenegger, who declared a state of emergency, said dozens of homes were destroyed but authorities had no precise figure. The flames hopscotched across the mansions and other canyon homes, burning some while sparing others.
A seaside city of 90,000 about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara rises rapidly from the coastline on the south to the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains in the north. It dates to the Spanish colonial era, features numerous multimillion-dollar homes and is a major tourist destination.
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Registered Independent
posted 5/08/09 @ 3:49 PM MST
Update:
The fire line is now 5 miles long, and there are are 2300 firefighters on the line and in the aircraft overhead dumping water on it.
Over 32,000 have been evacuated by mandate, and thousands more have voluntarily left their homes. (Continued…)
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