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Bonfire Abandoned by Young Adults Caused Santa Barbara's Tea Fire

Updated 5:22 PM PDT, Tue, Nov 18, 2008

AP

A huge two story home with an unobstructed view of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean lie's in ruins after a wind driven brush fire destroyed it.

 

LOS ANGELES -- A bonfire built by a group of young adults is what sparked a massive wildfire in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said Tuesday that 10 people had gathered at the tea garden where the fire originated. About 13 hours after they'd left, the fire broke out. The group believed the fire had been put out before they left.

An anonymous tip led to the discovery.

The fire was the first of three blazes to erupt in Southern California in the last week.

More than two dozen people were injured in the fire, including a Montecito couple who remained in critical condition Tuesday at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center.

The fire had burned 1,940 acres and was 100 percent contained by Tuesday. Santa Barbara County officials said 106 homes were burned in the city of Santa Barbara and another 77 burned in neighboring Montecito. A state of emergency was declared in Santa Barbara County.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Bay Area

Comments (15)

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  • sid&nancy Thursday, Nov 20 at 6:09 PM FLAG COMMENT This artilce is mis titled. If you read the article, the bonfire was not abandend.....they put it out and it was out until the winds stired it up 13 hours later. I would like to know if there were signs posted saying no fires. They have them up in Padres past Gorman so you know when and where you can have a fire. I would bet though that most of the people who go camping dont know the "boyscout"way of putting a fire out. I have ... MORE >
  • Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 19 at 10:10 PM FLAG COMMENT looks like Metal head has issues with his up-bringing and is blaming the rest of the world, women in particular for all the problems he had. What up dude, mother left you? you didnt finish high school or couldnt afford to go to college? I didnt finish high school and I didnt go to college and my mother worked and I own a house. Dude your totally whack. see a shrink ! you will never fins a woman who will stick around with all t ... MORE >
  • Sad Wednesday, Nov 19 at 3:23 PM FLAG COMMENT This is a very sad accident. The young adults involved should definately be held accountable for their actions. I honestly do not think this was arson because it sounds like it was a tragic mistake of not putting the fire out correctly. As far as blaming the women who go to work and earn an honest living, I am guessing you are a single man who can't seem to get a date, hmm! I wonder why. Some women have to work to keep a roof ... MORE >
  • Metalhead Wednesday, Nov 19 at 1:51 PM FLAG COMMENT "Look what happens when young adults act like minors." Look what happens when MOTHERS put their CAREERS over their the UPBRINGING OF THEIR CHILDREN. BTW I'm about as liberal you can be, but I DO blame FEMINISM for much of this, because women went to work and abandoned their children. This is what has resulted from that failed experiment.
  • Metalhead Wednesday, Nov 19 at 1:45 PM FLAG COMMENT So you lost a house. Don't expect sympathy from me, because you could afford one and you were allowed the educational opportunities which gave you the job so you could afford one. Many people who couldn't afford to go to a four-year university don't have houses. They live at the mercy of landlords. I feel no pity for you-especially if you're STUPID enough to live in an area known for red flags. So much for your coll ... MORE >

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