That Santa Barbara wildfire is spreading

Mega mansions are burning down. I feel nothing but sympathy for all the homeowners.

To lose a home, however it may happen, is a tragedy.

Tikki

I know there are things that can be done to make these homes more resistant to fire, but it would seem a lot of them aren't. It really takes a lot away from the quality of living in California. No place is without its share of natural and man-made disasters, but with the fires, earthquakes, slides, and everything else California does seem to have more than its fair share.

I hope they can put an end to this fire quickly. It's very sad, sending good thoughts to all the good people in California.

My daughter lives near there & I'm looking for a good link to follow it.

http://cbs2.com/

http://www.ktla.com/

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/index

good coverage.

area. This news makes me very, very sad. :cry: The whole town has been devastated once before (earthquake?) around the turn of the century -- it was after that, they decided to rebuild the town with the classic Sanata Barbara look of white houses with red tile roofs.

I hope the winds calm down and the marine layer sweeps in and helps the situation for the firefighters.

News on TV is too vague for "locals" :grouphug:

:cry:

the fire is moving west and has jumped 154

Had to see what you call "west" down there with the coast twisting around....

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&start=0&num=200&msa=0&msid=117631292961056724014.00046949ab968657977c9&ll=34.465523,-119.740677&spn=0.152851,0.241013&z=12

as are the east west running valleys behind the city...the fire is moving into Montecito apparently

The Jesusita fire is burning the area not burned by the Gap and Tea fires.

Hundred foot flames currently today
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/may/08/hundred-flames/

Map with all mandated evacuation areas:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=p&source=embed&msa=0&msid=108510746465180044244.00046932582acf7389e31&ll=34.459154,-119.714584&spn=0.084924,0.102997&z=13

Best online radio - with updates all day
http://www.ktyd.com/main.php

of homes there in assuming what burns. A tiny tarpaper shack will go for $1m in the city proper.

When a Realtor advertises a "San Roque charmer" you know two things about it already: it's small, and it costs a fortune.

Two hundred homes were already lost in the Tea Fire; in some places where this one is burning they had just begun to rebuild. We were threatened by the Gap Fire -- dh hoped that meant the fuel was gone and we'd be safer, but no such luck. The fire chief announced that the new growth is now crispy. We can see from the map where the new fire overlaps with the old burn from the Gap Fire.

This being the Central Coast, there are rich people with rich people's houses. But the vast majority of us are just normal people living in an abnormally skewed real estate market.

Hekate

but I was watching a massive home burn when I posted this thread.
When you have to pack and leave it must be painful regardless of the size of your home.

I'll take six months of hurricane threats over fire any day of the week.

I thought the peak of fire season was early fall, after the dry season had had a few months to get going. :scared:

I've lived in my home since '85 and I would be heartbroken to lose it.

It ain't much, but it's mine.

Thinking of all in harms way. :hug:

:shrug: