Fire nears Calif. coastal city; 20,000 evacuated

AP on Yahoo ^ | 5/8/09 | Raquel Maria Dillon - ap

[NormsRevenge]

Local residents watch as houses burn and others are threatened by flames during the Jesusita Fire in the hills of Santa Barbara. An out-of-control wildfire raged in California after destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee, officials said. (AFP/Mark Ralston)

[Amerigomag]

The ranch is many miles up wind and the other side of the hill from the fire. Recent, man made fires in SB started up slope, above population centers, then burned down hill toward town, driven in the evening by sun downer (orographic) winds or a strong, north west, regional flow which pushes the air mass up and over the Santa Ynez Mountains.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Have you reached them and how are they doing???

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks for reassurance re Rancho del Cielo:), aka Reagan Ranch.

That was good news on the weekend re weather change, big relief.

However, reports are 4,000 firefighters remain on scene for possible recurrence of “sundowner” winds.

And, irony of ironies!! The blaze was sparked by a brush-clearing power tool!!