TV news helicopters showed 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.

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

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 estimate the number of lost structures, but darkness revealed individual fires dotting hillsides.

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.

Mike Carr, battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said at least one fire engine had been overtaken by flames.

Three firefighters were being taken by helicopter to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, said Roy Forbes, the center's director of business development. He did not know what agencies they are with or the extent of their injuries.

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.

More than 800 firefighters were on the lines, and 20 more strike teams totaling about 1,300 firefighters were requested.

"The firefighters are picking houses and seeing if they can make a stand," Sadecki said.

Authorities ordered 2,000 homes evacuated Wednesday afternoon, up from an earlier evacuation order of 1,200.

The blaze bore down on the city at frightening speed, said Chad Jenson, a food server at Giovanni's Pizza.

"The sky is just deep orange and black, pretty much our whole hillside is going down," Jenson said.

In a city that has experienced a number of wildfires, Jenson said this one was as close to the city center as any he had seen. Less than six months ago a fire destroyed more than 200 homes in Santa Barbara and neighboring Montecito, and in 1990, a blaze killed one person and destroyed 641 homes, apartments and other structures in the county.

Steve Pivato, a Goleta resident, said the homes in the threatened area cost at least $1 million. "There's no shacks in that area," he said.

Pivato said the smoke from the fire turned from gray to black as he drove home: "That's the color when homes starts burning."

Jason Coggins, a waiter at the Kyoto Japanese Restaurant in Santa Barbara, said several traffic lights went out, causing multiple fender benders and traffic problems, and that the air was thick with ash.

"It's raining ash all the way down to the beach," Coggins said.

Santa Barbara, which has about 90,000 residents, rises rapidly from the Pacific coastline on the south to the foothills of the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains to the north. It is sometimes subject to "sundowners" - strong winds that blow downslope through passes and canyons of the mountain range and offshore. The tourist destination is about 100 miles west of Los Angeles.

Elsewhere, firefighters were battling a blaze in rural southeastern Arizona that destroyed three houses near Sierra Vista on Tuesday and injured a man. The fire charred about 4,200 acres near Fort Huachuca, threatening about 50 homes in a subdivision. Containment was estimated at 15 percent Wednesday.

In southern New Mexico, a wildfire in the mountains near Timberon charred about 100 acres, burning at least three structures. A State Forestry spokesman said firefighters hadn't been able to confirm what types of buildings they were.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

 

 

 

Fire Evacuation Information:

Journal Staff Report

 

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department has issued the following mandatory evacuation order for the following areas due to the changing conditions of the Jesusita Fire. 

 

 

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS

 

The mandatory evacuation order has been expanded to include: San Roque and Foothill Road South to State Street (Western boundary), from State Street to Micheltorena, Micheltorena North to the end of the road extending to Alameda Padre Serra. 

 

The overall mandatory evacuation order areas now includes: Morada Lane (Western boundary) and Ontare North to Camino Cielo, Foothill Road and Morada to San Roque, San Roque South to State Street (Western boundary), State Street to Micheltorena, Micheltorena North to the end of the road, extending to Alameda Padre Serra, Alameda Padre Serra East to Sycamore Canyon Road (Eastern boundary), North on Sycamore Canyon to Highway 192 West to El Cielito.

 

EVACUATION WARNINGS

 

The evacuation warning area has expanded and now includes:  La Cumbre Road (Western boundary) to State Street, State Street to De La Vina, De La Vina to Anapamu, Anapamu to Anacapa, Anacapa South to De La Guerra, De La Guerra to Milpas, Milpas to Montecito Street, Montecito Street to Alameda Padre Serra

 

For further information, visit the below Web sites or call the following phone numbers:

 

For more information go to the county’s Web site at www.CountyofSB.org

 

For more information on road closures, call Road Closure Hot Line at

(805) 568-3006 or go to www.countyofsb.org/pwd/roads/closure.htm

 

The Jesusita Fire Call Center number is 805-681-5197.  The Animal Services Hotline is 805-681-4332.

 

WHERE TO TAKE LARGE ANIMALS:

 

Owners of large animals (i.e. horses) may continue to take them to the Earl Warren Showgrounds– Los Positas entrance at 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.

 

 

WHERE TO TAKE SMALL ANIMALS:

 

Owners of small animals should call the Animal Services hotline – 681-4332 to be directed to a shelter location.  No longer take animals to the Santa Barbara Humane Society.

 

The Santa Barbara County also urges residents to prepare for more evacuations and power outages.

 

Residents are advised to stay alert for additional information by listening to County Government cable TV station Channel 20, or the following AM or FM radio “Stations of Choice” for Emergency Public Information or to other local television and radio stations.

 

AM Stations

KTMS—990  KUHL—1410  KZSB—1290  KINF—1440  San Marcos Pass Radio - 1040

 

FM Stations

KCSB—91.9   KSPE—94.5 (Spanish)  KSYV—96.7  KTYD—99.9  KSBL—101.7

KRAZ—105.9  KIST—107.7 (Spanish)

 

 

INTERMITTENT POWER OUTAGES EXPECTED

 

Southern California Edison power lines are affected by smoke from the Jesusita Fire, resulting in intermittent power outages along the South Coast.  Residents and businesses are advised to prepare for possible power outages tonight and tomorrow. Please refrain from unnecessary power use to reduce demand on the power grid.

 

Additional information will be available at www.countyofsb.org and www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov. Updated information is also available at County of Santa Barbara television station Channel 20 and City of Santa Barbara television station Channel 18.

 

Radio Stations:

 

FM:  KCSB-91.9; KSYV-96.7; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7; KRAZ-105.9

 

AM:  KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KUHL-1410; KINF-1440

Spanish language FM stations KSPE-94.5 and KIST-107.7