Preparation and Response Save Lives and Homes in SB Blaze
 |
| A sign made by residents to thank firefighters for saving hundreds of homes in the sprawling Jesusita Fire. |
Firefighters are earning horn-tooting, sign-waving thanks from grateful Santa Barbara County residents for saving hundreds of homes in the sprawling Jesusita Fire.
And firefighters are saying "back at ya!"
The blaze, which has charred some 9,000 acres, is currently 80 percent contained. Hundreds of homes in the hills overlooking the city of Santa Barbara were threatened by the flames, which at their height were whipped by desert gusts of more than 50 miles an hour.
Thanks to prompt and cooperative evacuation, 30,000 lives were preserved and no citizens were killed or seriously injured. Twenty-nine firefighters were injured, with one Ventura Co. firefighter still hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns.
Hundreds of homes were saved by the more than 3,000 firefighters who answered the call from jurisdictions throughout California.
Some 70 homes were lost, but the toll could have been substantially worse if it hadn't been for the smart firesafe planning of residents, including clearing defensible space.
"More homes would have burned if they hadn't done their defensible space work," said Santa Barbara Co. Chief Tom Franklin.
The success in saving lives and property underscores the wisdom of advance preparation and early evacuation.