Bonfire party caused Montecito fire

The fire that destroyed scores of homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara was caused by a group of young people who had built a bonfire, authorities said today.

A group of 10 young men and women described by authorities as locals went to the Tea house, an abandoned mansion, on Wednesday night for a bonfire party. They told Santa Barbara County sheriff's investigators that they had put the fire out before they left that night. But authorities believe the fire continued to smolder through Thursday before breaking out into fire when winds swept in Thursday afternoon.

At this time, it does not appear to be malicious, said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.

Officials described the group that started the fire as "college students," but didn't identify them further.

The fire broke out near Westmont College, but school officials say there's no indication that Westmont students were involved.

"We have been working closely and cooperating fully with fire officials, and at no point has anyone said that any of our students have been implicated," said Nancy Phinney, director of public relations for the college.

Asked whether the Teahouse property was a student hangout, she said that dating back to at least the 1960s, "Westmont students have known about that area....It's very near our campus."

Firefighters have achieved 95% containment of the 1,940-acre Tea fire, which damaged or destroyed 219 residences.

Last year, officials arrested several people who allegedly started a bonfire in some caves above Corral Canyon in Malibu, where flames burned dozens of homes.

—Catherine Saillant

Comments

[Wrong]

Accident or no accident, those irresponsible people should be prosecuted and punished for their reckless behavior. Setting bonfired in abandoned buildings is reason enough to throw them in jail.

[kristin]

A bunch of kids have a party, think they've put out the fire, and their mistake cost us millions of dollars, displaced lives, and injuries. I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

[Woody]

Ah, just a few harebrained locals prepping the coals for the next day's conflagration. Not so fast! Thank God I wasn't one who lost a home because of this reckless group.

[mark satterlee]

We all know it is Westmont students-stop protecting the college!

[Shango Barbarino]

The "tea house" was not a mansion. It was built as an entertainment area in the 1920's for a larger estate. The people that built it called it Mar Y Cil and it once featured massive waterworks, gardens, a stage and ampitheater. The property has been a well know area for hiking, partying, and skateboarding since the mid 1960's. It would not surprise me if those ten young adults were Westmont students taking a break from being on the God squad.

[Lysette]

Malicious or not, those kids should be facing charges. Arrogance and stupidity deserves a payback to society too. Those idiots destroyed peoples lives as they know it. Ask Christopher Lloyd and all the others who lost $10MM + homes.

[Doug Gentry]

"Arrogance and stupidity"? Seems to me they didn't do anything with malicious intent. Granted, they're going be in deep doo but from what I read it's not like they meant for any of this to happen. To me really stupid would be building a bonfire in 70 mph winds... I don't think that was the case.

[Red Sky]

They had no business on the vacant property.They did alot of damage amd the homes are uninsurable for fire damage on their property.feel sorry for the home owners they lost everything!They need to proscuted not protected by the college,

[storke pearl]

Not at all clear that at 3-5am on Nov. 13 that the intense Santa Ana conditions due for later that day were widely understood. Sure, making a fire in the Santa Barbara foothills during fire is unwise, but who would ever expect this, particularly if they thought they'd put their fire out? I'd save the righteous indignation for intentional malice, which is common enough. Also, I'd wait to see if this group turned themselves in and whether or not they were fully cooperative.

[Max]

They shouldn't be criminally prosecuted since it was an accident, but they should be held accountable financially.

Those ten students will definitely be sued by the insurance companies.

Odds are that a couple of them are trust funders with big bucks.

[Kenneth Agle]

They also destroyed the lives of many animals, both pets and wildlife. That's Christian?

[Jack Henry]

The price of anyone's home is irrelevant. Many Montecito homes are not primary residences and wealthy homeowners are well insured. Stop this elitist nonsense. If these kids started the fire, they should be held accountable according to the law.

[xlazyc]

Idiots. Who in their right mind would even attempt to build a bonfire with the dry conditions here in this part of California? Sounds like they should have spent more time in class, and less time partying. Put them in jail..........or better yet, as volunteers on a fireline for the next 20 years.

[Zeke Breznavich]

219 houses, worth what? maybe $4-5 million each on average?
Total of about $1 Billion.
Ten "students" responsible equals $100 Million each.
How's that for a debt upon graduation?
Of course, the tea house property owner(s) may be the "deep pocket", except no pocket is that deep, even in Montecito.
Poopie happens.

[Xman]

Here's an idea...prosecute every one of those idiots involved and give them about 10,000 hours community service, to be served exclusively on the volunteer fire department. And when there's a fire anywhere in their area, pull them from whatever they are doing and tell them it's serve the community or go to jail!

[JimBob]

Everyone in California, in order to get a driver's license, should read and sign a document that explains, "In this state, you NEVER start an open fire. No matter how safe you think you're being. EVER. And if you throw a cigarette out the window of your car, other citizens have the right to drag you out into the street and beat you senseless."

[halhiker]

To all those people calling for prosecution of these kids, ask yourself: If it were your kid or someone you love would you be saying the same thing?

[Christian]

These fires have to stop - smart up folks when deciding to light a match! Also, holding people accountable is paramount so others know there are serious repercussions when causing intentionally or not devastation in such proportions. If indeed it is accidental forget finishing college, put that on hold for these students - have them do community service by helping reforest the charred acres burned down. If it was intentional I think the answer is pretty clear have them locked up to repent.

[sam pignato]

The thought of one of those individuals lighting a match for bonfire in an incredible high fire district makes me violently outraged inside. I personally talked to people who lost their dream home built 5 yers ago that they worked their whole lives. They are destroyed as is christopher lloyd and his memories recored of a great carreer. I say make arrests to the the letter and spirit of the law. They were partying till 3 to 4 am and probably drove away drunk and stoned.

[loco bro]

The bonfire was not started in an abandoned building. You may want to check your facts again.

Secondly, let's not jump to conclusions that this was started by westmont students. The Brooks Institue, Santa Barbara Community College and UCSB are all colleges a short distance from the Tea Gardens. Besides this fact, this popular hiking destination is well known to many different groups of people and, in fact, is not limited to Westmont. Why don't we all wait till the official report is released before we start reaming people.

[Ashlieye]

I whole-heartedly agree that whoever is to blame for this fire should not go unpunished. Their carelessness cost countless families thier homes, personal belongings, and tax payers millions. HOWEVER, I am dissapointed that some would be so quick to judge the students and inhabitants of Westmont. Just because it's labeled as a Christian college does not give others the entightlement to blame them for what went wrong November 14th. I understand the human need to want to blame someone or call out a scape goat; but why is that more often than not, Christians get picked first?

[Chris]

This story is terrible. Just tragic. Talk about the mother of all accidents. It doesn't seem like these kids did anything maliciously, but the unitended consequences could not have been worse. Whether they were Westmont students or not, let's not attack all of Christianity because some kids made really poor decisions. Accidents happen, and this one was unbelievably horrible.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who knows at least two of the "young adults" are Santa Barbara City College students. There are a lot of "young adults" who know about the Tea Gardens as a place for bonfires, so it should not be assumed it was Westmont kids just because it was near Westmont.

[cw]

It's hard not to sympathise with both sides of the story. It's natural to want vendication but if lightning had started the fire we would all go about our mary way and call it natural and a shame. Somethings in life just stink. 10 kids can do their best to pay thier debt to society but it will never be equal. 10 kids can't possibly be expected to settle up the debt for 100+ lifetimes of other's successful work. If it's all supposed to be even in this world I guess they are supposed to pay with their lives, but that sounds completely ludicrous. Somethings just stink and stink real bad. I have a close friend whose parents life's work were lost in this, I don't think they are calling for blood or want to ruin the lives of these kids.
How many beach fires have been enjoyed on the california coast with zero consequences? The situation stinks. Everyone of those kids is probably wishing they had dumped several gallons of water on those done embers.
I don't know how this will ever be made "right", but it doesn't sound like anyone set out to do this.

[Kerry Gillette]

This fire really saddens me, a lot of people I care about lost homes and property. I want to respond to a few comments that people made accusing Westmont of "protecting" the students responsible. I have to say that in my four years there, never once was a student NOT held accountable for reckless behavior, or any breech of college policy. The Westmont administration is comprised of men and women with high moral integrity, I think we can trust that after the official investigation is complete, they will not be making some underhanded side deal to "protect" students if indeed it was Westmont students that caused the fire. Those students will get love and support from the college, but they will have to own up to what they did and the consequences that the county deems appropriate.