Firefighters battle for ‘ghost town’ as Oprah’s mansion under threat
Firefighters trying to prevent one of the biggest blazes in California’s history from consuming homes in Santa Barbara and the nearby wealthy enclave of Montecito were hoping less powerful winds would help their efforts.
Gusts of up to 35mph were expected yesterday after winds roared about 60mph on Saturday.
Fire spokesman Jude Olivas said even the lower intensity winds were still extremely dangerous as he hailed firefighters for managing to stop the natural disaster from burning thousands of residences.
The fire that started 12 days ago has burned at least 700 homes and killed a firefighter. Autopsy results showed 32-year-old Cory Iverson had died of burns and smoke inhalation.
Mr Olivas said firefighters saved thousands of homes from being destroyed on Saturday.
Residents had piled into cars and fled earlier that day, turning downtown Santa Barbara into what one resident called “a ghost town”.
There were mandatory evacuations around Montecito and neighbouring Summerland as firefighters sprayed water onto hot spots sparked by wind-blown embers. They also drove to the historic San Ysidro Ranch in yellow fire trucks as heavy smoke rose from the coastal hills, blotting out blue skies.
A portion of Santa Barbara was under mandatory evacuation. At the city’s zoo, workers started putting some animals into crates and kennels to ready them for possible evacuation.
Restaurants and small stores on normally bustling State Street were shuttered.
“It’saghosttown.everything is shut down,” Santa Barbara business owner Maya Schooprutten said. “It’s very, very eerie.”
The northbound lanes of US Highway 101, coming up the coast from Los Angeles, were closed for a few hours south of Santa Barbara, with cars stopped on the freeway.
The 418 square mile blaze called the Thomas fire was moving rapidly westward and crested Montecito Peak, just north of Montecito. Known for its star power, the enclave boasts the mansions of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres and many other celebrities.
“It is right above the homes,” Mr Olivas said.
Ms Winfrey expressed her dismay on her Twitter account. “Still praying for our little town,” she tweeted. Mr Olivas said 400 fire engines were sent to protect homes in the area. The fire is now the third largest in California history.