Firefighters Make Headway in Santa Barbara Fire, Residents to Return Home

May 9, 2009— -- With the Santa Barbara, Calif.-area fires at least 30 percent contained, more than half of the 30,000 residents who evacuated their homes were told today that they can start to return.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown lifted mandatory evacuations for most of the areas threatened by fire. And after he did, many people moved back into their homes as fast as they had gotten out two days earlier.

Santa Barbara County Deputy Fire Chief Chris Hahn had said that officials were "working hard to make sure it's safe enough" for residents to go back home.

With a cap of fog and cool air over Santa Barbara, fire crews were putting out hot spots and trying to extend containment of the fire before the wind blows again.

"We're going from a defensive for the past few days to now an offensive," Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Wallace said. "Now we're gonna start chasing the fire, not have it chase us."

Officials have yet to identify what caused the raging fires that have consumed at least 80 houses, with the homes of more than 3,500 other residents still under threat.

Residential areas have been helped by higher humidity and cooler temperatures, which create more moist vegetation, officials said.

As of Saturday morning, the fire was 30 percent contained, up from 10 percent Friday. Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Andrew DiMizio said during a press conference today that the highlight of his career was seeing the northern border contained.

Although conditions are improving, Hahn warned, "Just because the weather's better doesn't mean we're out of the woods. Our guard is up and always will be up."