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.
Santa Barbara County fire investigators have determined the fire's point of origin and that the cause of the fire was human related, although they do not know if it was intentional or not. "The investigation focus is now shifting toward individuals entering the property late Wednesday night and through the early morning hours of Thursday," the County said in a statement. That property they refer to is on East Mountain Drive between the Cold Springs Trailhead and the area known as “The Tea House," hence the fire's sobriquet. The blaze that began Thursday evening has burned 1,940 acres, destroyed 210 homes and is 95% contained.
