Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Dozens of Homes Destroyed, Thousands Threatened by 'Tea Fire' Near Santa Barbara

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Folks watch a home burn in the hills above Santa Barbara, Calif., on Thursday Nov. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Phil Klein)

At least 100 residences were destroyed by an uncontained brush fire that was spotted in the Montecito hills northeast of Santa Barbara around 6 p.m Thursday and up to 1,200 more remain threatened, according to officials.

Firefighters from as far as Orange County and San Luis Obispo were reporting to the scene of the 800-acre+ wildfire, dubbed the Tea Fire, as of midnight.

High fire danger is forecast through Saturday across the region as conditions remain dry and temperatures rise into the 90's.

Visit KNX, KFWB, KCLU, and the Santa Barbara Independent to follow the story overnight. A GoogleMap of mandatory evacuations is at CrisisWire.

Sponsored message

Thanks to Edward Vielmetti who posted this photo (and more) via his brother who lives in the area. We count on your first-hand reports and photos to report this information to the LAist community. Join our Flickr group here.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today