May 5, 2009 10:19 pm US/Pacific
Santa Barbara Wildfire Within Half-Mile Of Homes
Zero Containment On The 400-Acre Brush Fire
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) ―
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Flames continue to burn the hillsides of Santa Barbara into the night.
CBS
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Evacuations have been ordered as a fire burns an area near Santa Barbara's Botanical Gardens.
CBS
A wildfire is threatening about 2,000 homes in Santa Barbara as strong winds continue to drive the blaze closer to neighborhoods
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki says about 1,200 homes were ordered evacuated Tuesday but no structures have been lost. There is zero containment on the 400-acre fire, which quickly grew after igniting in the foothills above San Roque Canyon.
Santa Barbara County spokeswoman Pat Wheatley has pulled within a half-mile of some neighborhoods.
Sadecki says the Jesusita fire, which erupted Tuesday afternoon, is burning less than a square mile along the foothills above Santa Barbara. Weather officials say 20-30 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph are pushing the fire, which was named after a hiking trail in the area, toward homes.
A wind advisory is in effect for the area through 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Evacuations have been ordered for neighborhoods spanning an area about 2 1/2 miles wide, and part of State Route 192 has been closed. More than 1,000 homes are also under an evacuation warning.
County spokesman William Boyer says an evacuation center has been set up at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance. Animal evacuation centers have been set up at the Santa Barbara Humane Society, 5399 Overpass Road. Large animals should be taken to the Earl Warren Showgrounds.
County and city firefighters are being aided by helicopters. Twenty strike teams from all over Southern California have also been sent to help fight the blaze.
Authorities say the fire has been moving west-to-east, parallel to the city, but winds are keeping the flames in the mountains for now.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for all areas north of Highway 192, from Foothill Road to Morada Lane, Ontare Road to El Cilito Road and Gibralter Road to East Camino Cielo SMC.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
60 Freeway Brush Fire
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