http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20081113-2202-ca-socalfire.html
SANTA BARBARA – A brush fire destroyed dozens of homes Thursday in the tony enclave of Montecito, forcing evacuations in the community that has long been a hideaway for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Rob Lowe.
Flames had engulfed several multimillion-dollar homes and widespread power outages were reported in the area. It was not clear whether any celebrities' homes had burned.
The fire, driven by gusting winds, quickly spread through 300 acres in the foothills five miles south of Santa Barbara, and several fire departments were battling the flames as thick plumes of smoke hovered overhead.
“It looked like lava coming down a volcano,” Leslie Hollis Lopez told The Associated Press as she gathered belongings from her house.
“It's very tenuous. We're hoping the winds are favorable.”
Montecito fire spokeswoman Geri Ventura said she did not know if anyone was injured or how many homes had burned. She said about a quarter of the community of 10,000 people was evacuated and more could be moved out if the fire spreads.
One resident described the area as deserted.
“You can just hear the explosions ... of vehicles, homes,” Michaelo Rosso told KCAL TV as he prepared to leave his home. “It sounds like the Fourth of July out here.”
Gusts were being clocked as high as 70 mph early Thursday night and were expected to remain strong through early Friday morning, according to Bonnie Bartling of the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
SANTA BARBARA – A brush fire destroyed dozens of homes Thursday in the tony enclave of Montecito, forcing evacuations in the community that has long been a hideaway for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Rob Lowe.
Flames had engulfed several multimillion-dollar homes and widespread power outages were reported in the area. It was not clear whether any celebrities' homes had burned.
The fire, driven by gusting winds, quickly spread through 300 acres in the foothills five miles south of Santa Barbara, and several fire departments were battling the flames as thick plumes of smoke hovered overhead.
“It looked like lava coming down a volcano,” Leslie Hollis Lopez told The Associated Press as she gathered belongings from her house.
“It's very tenuous. We're hoping the winds are favorable.”
Montecito fire spokeswoman Geri Ventura said she did not know if anyone was injured or how many homes had burned. She said about a quarter of the community of 10,000 people was evacuated and more could be moved out if the fire spreads.
One resident described the area as deserted.
“You can just hear the explosions ... of vehicles, homes,” Michaelo Rosso told KCAL TV as he prepared to leave his home. “It sounds like the Fourth of July out here.”
Gusts were being clocked as high as 70 mph early Thursday night and were expected to remain strong through early Friday morning, according to Bonnie Bartling of the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
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