Tea Fire Destroys 80 Santa Barbara Homes

The spring and early summer was a busy time for wildfires. In April, 1,200 residents of Colorado evacuated ahead of a destructive wildfire. In May, 90 wildfires burned more than 40,000 acres in Florida, including several structures worth nearly $10 million. in June, northern California lit up after lightning strikes ignited hundreds of fires that burned 272,000 acres.

Nothing quite rivaled the Southern California wildfires in November, however (shown here). At least 900 homes were destroyed as major fires fed by dry, hot Santa Ana "devil winds" raced across the region.

Wildfire activity has already increased due to global warming, according to some studies. Reduced snowpack and runoff, higher temperatures and less humidity all conspire to create conditions conducive to wildfire ignition. Still, 2008 was not a record-setting year for wildfires. The nearly 79,000 fires recorded was 2% above the 10-year average, but the area burned -- 5.3 million acres -- was 28% below average.

Photo: AP Photo / Dan Steinberg

related articles

A month after the last spate of wildfires destroyed California homes, strong winds are buffeting another raging fire that has already destroyed more than 80 homes in Santa Barbara County, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The so-called Tea fire has burned 1,500 acres and, like the last fire, it is being fed by hot, dry Santa Ana "devil winds" that at times have nearly reached hurricane-strength.

Firefighters are waiting for daybreak, to see if even more homes have been destroyed in the wealthy celebrity-studded enclave (Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe and Michael Douglas all own homes in the area, according to the Times).

Hundreds have been evacuated, including students from Westmont College.

"In the hills of Montecito," the Times reported, "residents could be seen packing up cars. Horse trailers and Porsches snaked their way down narrow, winding mountain roads."

Despite some spectacular fires this year, and despite ongoing concerns among scientists that global warming has increased wildfire risk, 2008 has been a relatively quiet year, overall for wildfires. Through October, 73,704 fires had burned nearly 5.1 million acres. The number of fires just about matches the 10-year average, but the acreage burned is 25% lower than the 10-year average.

COMMENTS ()