Engine Overrun by Flames, Firefighters Injured in California Wildfires

The 2-square-mile fire has forced the evacuation of more than 13,500 people from more than 5,400 homes. It remained out of control and the weather forecast for Thursday afternoon could again drive the flames into expensive homes in this scenic coastal enclave.

More fire crews were called in from around the state to battle the blaze. Ten firefighters were injured, at least three seriously, and the number of evacuees could double later in the day.

"We really can't do any containment lines. It's too dangerous," Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki said. "We're doing some structure protection, but firefighters can be in a safe location one minute and in a dangerous situation the next."

While the morning was cool and breezy, temperatures were expected to top 100 degrees and winds picking up through the day could gust up to 50 mph. Those were the same conditions that drove the tame blaze into ferocious activity Wednesday afternoon.

"Today is a concern to us," Sadecki said. "It could be a mirror of yesterday."

Schwarzenegger, who declared a state of emergency, said dozens of homes were destroyed but authorities had no precise figure. The flames hopscotched across the mansions and other canyon homes, burning some while sparing others.

A seaside city of 90,000 about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara rises rapidly from the coastline on the south to the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains in the north. It dates to the Spanish colonial era, features numerous multimillion-dollar homes and is a major tourist destination.

The city's location gives it some of the best weather in the world, with temperatures routinely topping out in the 70s. However, the hills that offer panoramic views to homeowners also make the area subject to "sundowners" - strong winds that in the afternoon and evening blow downslope through passes and canyons of the mountain range and offshore.

Less than six months ago a fire destroyed more than 200 homes in Santa Barbara and neighboring Montecito.

About 1,400 firefighters were on the lines including crews from Monterey County and San Diego County, along with state prison inmates. Water- and fire retardant-dropping aircraft attacked the flames.

"They are trying to hit as many hot spots as they can creeping around homes," city fire Capt. Mike De Ponce said.

Three Ventura County firefighters were hurt when their engine was overtaken by flames when they ran into the burning home they were trying to protect. They were trapped and one was cut in the face when the home's windows imploded, said Dr. Richard Grossman of the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles.

The firefighters were airlifted to the center, where one was treated for smoke inhalation and two for burns. All were in serious but stable condition.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department spokesman Drew Sugars said 5,430 homes were under mandatory evacuation. The estimated population of those homes was 13,575 people, he said. Another 13,000 were warned they may need to evacuate.

Some of the initial evacuees were allowed to return to their homes early Thursday, the county said in a news release, but officials had no estimate of how many people were affected.

The fire went from tame to explosive Wednesday afternoon as gusts up to 50 mph in triple-digit temperatures hurled the fire from north to south into neighborhoods.

Huge mansions and humble homes alike were destroyed, leaving palm trees swaying over gutted ruins. Aerial footage showed five or more luxury homes burning along one crest-top road, and many flare-ups dotting the residential hills were apparently burning homes.

"The fire is very spotty and patchy and there's a lot of smoke," which makes it difficult to see the damage," Sadecki said.

Elsewhere, a southern New Mexico wildfire charred about 100 acres, burning at least three structures in the mountains near Timberon. State Forestry spokesman Dan Ware said 15 residents have been evacuated, and 70 other structures were threatened.

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