Wildfire Chars 70 Acres Of Chaparral Above Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA (CBSLA.com/AP) — A wind-driven wildfire has burned 70 acres of chaparral in the mountains above Santa Barbara and Montecito but officials say no structures are threatened.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Dave Zaniboni says the blaze was reported around 5:15 a.m. Thursday in Los Padres National Forest.
He says 25 mph winds are pushing the fire to the east.
Air tankers, helicopters and more than 130 firefighters are working to beat back the flames before they move downhill toward homes below Montecito Peak.
An evacuation warning remains in effect for North of Highway 192, east of Coyote, west of Buena Vista and south of East Camino Cielo, according to the Montecito Fire Department.
The Santa Barbara County Humane Society, located at 5399 Overpass Road, is accepting animals for boarding.
Officials have closed East Camino Cielo at Painted Cave Road to Gibraltar Road and West Mountain Drive at Gibraltar Road.
Earlier this morning, firefighters contained a brush fire that scorched nine acres of land near Santa Clarita.
The northerly gusts are expected to shift to the northeast Thursday night, becoming the first significant Santa Ana wind event of the season.
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