Time for Tea: A Santa Barbara Fire
November 15, 2008 – 6:06 pm
Although the Gap Fire from earlier this year was much closer to my residence (<2 miles), it was well controlled and less violent throughout the duration.
In contrast, the Tea Fire came out of nowhere, and 70 mph wind gusts pushed the fire directly into residences due to the sundowner winds that blow from the top of the mountains all the way to the coast.
I am completely safe as the fire would have to move from the east side of the city all the way to the west side of the city to come near to me.
The saddest thing to me is that this fire has already destroyed buildings and dorms and displaced Westmont College students. It has burned more than 100 residences.
I learned of the fire shortly after local news broke the story about 10 minutes after 6pm, which is quick considering the fire is estimated to have started/reported about 5:50.
Today, many of my coworkers didn’t come in to work, presumably because they needed to evac, or are waiting at their homes because they are in the warning zones.


