Three firefighters at burn center fighting Santa Barbara blaze. Links, video and details from Southern California.
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California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
KEYT-TV reports that three firefighters from Ventura County are in the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks suffering first, second and third degree burns while operating at the Jesusita fire.
From the AP:
Fierce winds blew a wildfire into Southern California homes Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to flee as columns of smoke rose from a scenic coastal enclave.
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.
Sadecki said two firefighters were overrun by flames and were hospitalized, but he had no other details.
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. .
