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Wildfire burns homes in coastal Calif. enclave

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-07 15:01

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Fierce winds blew a wildfire into Southern California homes Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to flee as columns of smoke rose from a scenic coastal enclave.

TV news helicopters showed many homes ablaze in Santa Barbara, but the number could not immediately be determined because of thick smoke columns that scattered embers over the city and streamed out over the Pacific Ocean.

The Jesusita fire burns in the foothills above Santa Barbara Tuesday May 5, 2009.[Agencies]

Huge mansions and humble homes alike were reduced to rubble, leaving palm trees swaying over gutted ruins.

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The fire had burned 200 acres, or about one-third of a square mile, by midday when winds were calm, then was whipped by up to 50 mph gusts. By sunset, it was 500 acres -- about three-fourths of a square mile -- and winds were down to 25 mph, said Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki.

Authorities could not immediately estimate the number of lost structures but aerial footage showed five or more luxury homes burning along a crest-top road. Many flare-ups dotting the residential hills were apparently burning homes.

More than 8,000 people were evacuated, according to a proclamation Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued in declaring a state of emergency for Santa Barbara County. He asked federal authorities to issue an assistance grant to ensure financial resources are available for firefighting.

Three Ventura County firefighters received minor to moderate burns and respiratory injuries when their fire engine was overtaken by flames as they tried to protect a structure, Ventura County Fire department spokesman Bill Nash said. Their fire engine was heavily damaged in the incident and an accident review team was en route to the scene to determine what had happened.

The three were taken by helicopter to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles.

Mayor Marty Blum said other firefighters remained perilously close to the flames.

"We have got a couple firefighters in a real tentative situation up there surrounded by some flames, so we are hoping to get them out of there," Blum told KABC-TV.

One firefighter suffered a head injury earlier in the day.

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