Fire in Santa Barbara County grows due to hot, dry conditions


Before it gets even hotter, firefighters in Santa Barbara County, California, are racing to contain the so-called Sherpa fire.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, the fire, spread across more than 7,000 acres, was 45 percent contained, Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Dave Zaniboni told the Los Angeles Times. More than 2,000 personnel are fighting the blaze. Starting Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, the area is under a red-flag warning, with officials bracing for extremely hot temperatures, low humidity, and gusty sundowner winds. So far, just one structure has burned down, and a campground was saved.
The fire began Wednesday afternoon, and the flames spread quickly through chaparral, tall grass, and brush in an area that hasn't seen a major fire since 1955. Many residents have evacuated because of the smoke in the air, and two firefighters have sustained minor injuries while fighting the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Can Gaza aid drops work?
Today's Big Question UN's Palestinian refugee agency calls plan a 'distraction and smokescreen' as pressure mounts on Israel to agree ceasefire and fully open land crossings
-
Posh tinned fish is making waves
The Week Recommends Upmarket tuna and trout in colourful tins have become a 'chic' dinner party staple
-
Food may contribute more to obesity than exercise
Under the radar The devil's in the diet
-
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue chief resigns
Speed Read Ken Pagurek has left the organization, citing 'chaos'
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodge
Speed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floods
Speed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star program
speed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
US proposes eroding species protections
Speed Read The Trump administration wants to change the definition of 'harm' in the Environmental Protection Act to allow habitat damage
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central US
Speed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslides
Speed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides
-
Should Los Angeles rebuild its fire-prone neighbourhoods?
Talking Point The latest devastating wildfires must be a wake-up call for Los Angels to 'move away from fire-prone suburban sprawl'