Looks like a fire broke out in CA, ppl. being evacuated

[wildflower]

If you are in that area, looks like they're evacuating:

From http://www.examiner.com/a-1689550~Brush_fire_burns_3_to_5_acres_above_Santa_Barbara.html :

A brush fire is burning in the hills above Santa Barbara and Montecito, forcing some evacuations in the Cold Springs area.

KEYT-TV reports the fire has burned 3 to 5 acres. It was reported at about 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

A Santa Barbara fire dispatcher says an unknown number of evacuations have been ordered.

Posting to GD just in case it helps any of you who might see it.

[wildflower]

1. Kick in case anyone needs this info

[tabatha]

2. It is now 20 acres.

Check here for news.

http://edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1394

and here

http://www.independent.com/news/2008/nov/13/all-mountain-drive-ordered-evacuate/

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Here we go. Two days of heavy Santa Ana winds. I really feel for those people.

Where I live in the mountains outside of L.A., we're constantly on the lookout for the first hint of smoke.

I'm watching it live on the news right now (KCAL-9) and it looks like it's getting bigger by the minute. The wind is blowing very hard. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Montecito.

[tabatha]

4. Zaca, Gap and now this.

There was a fire, Sycamore, there, I think in 1977.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. I think you're right.

Numerous fires in that area over the years. I drove up through San Marcos pass in the early 90's and it looked like a moonscape. Homes burning now.

[underseasurveyor]

6. Been watching on local KCAL 9 news

Doesn't look good... but then again no Southern California fire does. Suppose to be 90 degrees tomorrow. I would expect more fires to break out across the area.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. The wind is absolutely howling right now up here in Big Bear.

All it takes is one idiot with a lit cigarrette. 60mph gusts until late Saturday. Scary.

[underseasurveyor]

10. I lived in big bear years ago

Actually Big Bear City. Use to work at a supper-club in Big Bear Lake I think it was called the Highlander.. Don't suppose it still exists? I also worked at Chad's, a biker bar, is that still there?

Then there was a family buffet style restaurant that a friend of mine use to own. Oh that was so long ago. 20+ years.

:hi:

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Chads!

I live close to the Big Bear Marina off of Lakeview Drive. The Highlander has been gone for a while. Things change around here crazy fast. I can think of about 5 different restaurants that didn't last a year.

Chads is my favorite bar in town. Being a Harley rider, it's a natural choice lol. Me and the Ms. are there about twice a week.

[underseasurveyor]

13. Yep I worked there

Back in '84'-'85'.. Nice to know the place still exists. Had a lot of fun times in that place. Heh and the whole time I worked there not one fight ever broke out even when there was a mix of colors in the place. At this same time a girl friend of mine worked at the cowboy bar a block up and there were fights almost every weekend.. ha ha

Yea those were some days.. and nights:toast: You and the Ms. have a cool one for me next time you go in. Shit the owners name escapes me.. he was a nice guy to work for. I'll think of it.

[anitar1]

25. hey Temperance--I lived there a couple or 3 years around 25+ years ago..

Did a stint at Chad's and used to go to the Highlander. Had a great time there. don't remember the buffet though.Finally became tired of the mountain and moved to Santa Barbara amd actually worked in Montecito==beautiful place.

[underseasurveyor]

37. Small world

The Highlander was a rockin' fun place to work, made good money there too. Um you by any chance didn't happen to play any softball up there? A couple of us girls that worked at Chad's played on a team.

[bluetrain]

7. Not again...

[underseasurveyor]

8. Local news just reported

The fire has burned into the city boundaries of Santa Barbara.

[tabatha]

11. Latest News

Independent reporter Chris Meagher is on scene at the main gate of Westmont College in Montecito. Windy conditions are exacerbating the T Fire, which authorities say started early this evening in an area north of Westmont in an area known as the Tea Garden. According to Meagher's latest report, the chapel and several residences are on fire at Westmont, it is very windy, and embers are flying around everywhere. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Santa Barbara County information officer William Boyer issued a statement telling people to stay out of the area. The roads are narrow and available space will be needed for fire trucks and equipment. "Westmont is ablaze," said Meagher.

[Newsjock]

14. This looks bad

Live video at http://cbs2.com

Fire apparently swept through a neighborhood and has already moved on, but at least a dozen homes (and likely many more) are burning to the ground in its wake.

[tabatha]

15. Thanks for that link.

This is NOT a wildfire. It is strictly urban, made bad because of wind.

There is no chaparral to blame.

[underseasurveyor]

16. Reports saying

this fire is totally out of control in every sense of the meaning.. I know they tend to sensationalize but from what I'm seeing on the local news.. yea it looks pretty outta control to me.

It's sad to see people homes burning:-(

[tabatha]

17. It has quieted down a little as the wind has dropped.

Eleven or so structures have burned.

It is called the "Tea Fire" because it broke out in the Tea Garden area of Westmont College.

[underseasurveyor]

20. Winds haven't dropped that much

if much at all.. I'm watching live local coverage and the fires are whipping around pretty good.

[tabatha]

22. I heard that they had dropped - reporting error.

Here is an up-to-date report from Ray Ford.

http://www.independent.com/news/2008/nov/13/sycamore-canyon-fire-dejavu/

[underseasurveyor]

35. You're probably right and heard correctly

But from what I was watching on tv it just didn't look like it to me.

[tabatha]

18. There are two more fires in LA.

[Hekate]

19. Over 300 acres, state of emergency declared, moving very fast.

I was in the downtown SB Borders to meet a Los Angeles friend and go to a gathering in those hills. We met up about 6, and I didn't notice anything amiss. We came out at 7 and looked down the side street and the hill was ablaze. The full moon was blood-red. Ash was showering down. While I was trying to convince her that the hostess would cancel if she was smart, all the lights downtown went out. The cellphone cut out in mid-call to our erstwhile hostess and I said, "The cell-phone tower is gone."

The fire is not in the same area our friend lives in, but the road up there is twisty and narrow, all the brush is tinder, and the winds are blowing embers everywhere. Thanks, but no thanks. She went back toward LA and I went home to Goleta, listening to the radio announcer saying, "If you live up there, get out, get out. Don't wait for an evacuation order, get out."

You can see the glow from my street, although it's miles away from us.

Houses are going up in flames. I just hope all the people who lived in them are safe.

Hekate

[underseasurveyor]

21. Glad you didn't go into those hills

Whoa.. what a hellish nightmare that could have been. Good instincts and common sense on your part.

[Hekate]

26. The recent Gap Fire was in the hills above my suburban tract. We weren't officially under evacuation

...but I had to go stay with a friend because the air was so awful. Also I was scared spitless. :eyes: One of the things the Fire Dept and other officials worried about the most was the fire coming out of the hills into the city.

There must have been a lot of poison oak or something in the flames and soot because I got such a huge allergic response I eventually had to get a cortisone shot. It was miserably itchy to clean out the house but thank God there was a house to clean out.

We Californians -- bonded in sympathy with all those in sight of fires tonight and always.

Hekate

[underseasurveyor]

38. Glad you're feeling better.

and yes we Californians do bond on many level but these damn wildfires as horrid as they are do seem to bring about a unique connection/bond amongst us.

Big:hug:for you

[tabatha]

23. I heard those warnings about 6:15pm.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

24. Where do you live?

My parents are in Goleta, I just talked to them. They were at dinner in SB, just came home and are trying to get information. I just read that the fire is now about 1 mile from the Mission. Scary. Glad you are safe. The videos and slideshows look very very frightening.

I'm going down there in a couple of weeks, will be not far from the fire area in Montecito.

[tabatha]

27. I was driving back from a class at SBBG.

Three fire vehicles passed in the opposite direction.
I drove to Noleta, where I live.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

28. My parents are in the Patterson area...

they were ready to evacuate during the last fire. Too many fires there this year.

[tabatha]

29. Very close by.

The Gap fire caused me to reorganize all of my papers into portable file boxes, so that there will be no guessing as to what to take.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

31. yep, they did that, too

My stepmom cataloged and photographed everything in the house. Good idea, and it passed the anxious time.

[Hekate]

30. I live in Goleta, near Stow Grove. Just talked to my daughter, who lives off La Cumbre in Noleta

She runs a pre-school, and I think several of the families live in Montecito. One family just lost their home; she's got a couple of the pre-school kids sleeping at her place, plus her own little boy-- but she can see the fire from where she is and it's making her nervous I can tell. There's a lot of animals--3 dogs, 6 chickens, guinea pigs, and 2 small real pigs. I will take the two smallest dogs, the huge mastiff puppy will go to her in-laws (big yard), and I gave her the info line number to call about where to take the pigs. Fortunately there are enough grownups with cars right there that if they decide to leave they can get going quickly.

Long night ahead.

Hekate

[RevolutionStartsNow]

32. I'll send good thoughts...

:hug:

[Hekate]

39. Thanks. I just got off the phone with my LA friend. She made it home fine, but her sis in Montecito

... evacuated and is pretty sure her home burned down. I was there once for my friend's PhD graduation, and I have to say it was a gorgeous place. Hard to find, though -- I hate driving around Montecito (have been to a number of meetings over the years) because it's almost like it's designed to make non-residents get lost, especially at night. The street signage is pretty well hidden by trees and hedges.

It's sad to lose a home though, whether it's a little tract home like mine or a modern-day castle. Home is home. Plus the fire is over the city line now; it's threatening some of the most densely populated areas we have.

I'm just staggered at the rapidity and scope of the mutual aid response from all over. That should help a lot.

Going to go check the news again.

Hekate

[underseasurveyor]

40. Oh I hope your friends sisters home didn't burn down.

I hope I hope I hope... Fingers crossed

[DU GrovelBot]

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[uppityperson]

34. Good luck. Here are some links about it from fire.ca.gov

http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_info.php
http://www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_Tea.php

[tabatha]

36. Wind Has Died, But Fire in City

Tea Fire Moving West to Santa Barbara


Independent reporter Chris Meagher is on scene in Montecito, and just received information indicating that the Tea Fire has moved West, and has entered the City of Santa Barbara. The number of structures consumed by the blaze has not yet been confirmed, but it is reported to be over 100. Independent correspondent Ray Ford reported from Las Alturas Road that the fire has entered the Riviera. "This is bad news," he said. The group assigned to Westmont College is "in immediate need" according to information gleaned by Meagher from Montecito Fire.

.....

Currently, KCAL TV news reports that 20,000 people are without power as a result of the fire. Mandatory evacuations have been issued north of Highway 192 between Hot Springs and Cold Springs Roads. An evacuation shelter has been set up by the American Red Cross at San Marcos High School - located at the intersection of Turnpike Road and Hollister Avenue. Shelter for large animals has been set up at Earl Warren Showgrounds, and for small animals at the Humane Society on Patterson Avenue, south of the freeway.

Meagher said that the wind has calmed noticably, but that seven Los Angeles County Fire engines just arrived onscene.

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. getting live coverage on LA tv. Looks bad.

[nichomachus]

42. 80-100 homes destroyed, another 1,000 threatened

[tabatha]

43. Live Feed Friday morning

http://media.myfoxla.com/live/2/