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Santa Barabara's Jesusita Fire Forces Evacuations, Threatens Homes
The wildfire blazing in the hills of Santa Barabra continued to burn through the night, and is now closing in on homes. The Jesusita fire has now grown to 420 acres, and is forcing approximately 1,200 residents to evacuate from 2,000 threatened homes. A Red Cross shelter has been set up at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta. Arrangements have been made to accommodate animals as well.
Fire crews worked through the night to keep the fire under control, and so far no structures have been lost. "Fourteen strike teams, including 70 engines and three helicopters, battled the blaze. The helicopters, often grounded after dark, dropped water on the fire for much of the night," an official told the Pasadena Star-News. They expect to have an updated assessment of the fire's scope and their containment this morning, following their daylight efforts to battle the blaze. According to the Santa Barbara Independent, today "promises to be a huge day on the fire lines."
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