California Wildfires Force Evacuation of Thousands of Residents, Memorial Day Campers

CALIFORNIA – An escalating wildfire in the mountains of Santa Barbara County in California has now forced the evacuation of thousands of people, who are mostly out camping on Memorial Day, to safer grounds, authorities said.

The wildfire occurred Monday, around 2:40 in the afternoon, at the Los Padres National reserve some 15 miles from the northern fringes of Santa Barbara, police disclosed.

Forest Service officials said the surging fire had engulfed around a thousand acres of land hours later brought about by 20-mph winds.

The officials disclosed the wildfire has been five percent contained as of press time.

Paradise Rd. as well as the camp sites along the area have been ordered closed, forcing more than 5,000 campers to clear the area and relocate to safety, authorities said.

Based on latest update from the Forest Service office, the fire was threatening around 50 housing units, many of them vacation rentals and wooden cabins, and about 75 residents had fled the area, David Sadecki, county fire Captain, bared.

Meanwhile, an evacuation center had been set up by the Red Cross at Santa Barbara City College and another was built to accommodate horses stalled in the many stables of the area.

Firefighters from the United States Forest Service got help from emergency rescue teams from other regions along with water drops from four planes and two helicopters.

Source : http://www.pentagonpost.com/california-wildfires-force-evacuation-of-residents-memorial-day-campers/8348631