Montecito fire: What about the celebrities? *

* Post updated at 9:35 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

Most news organizations have focused coverage of the Montecito fire on homes lost and where the flames are heading. But others had other priorities. Here's the lead from the fire story from Thaindian.com:

Michael Douglas, Rob Lowe, and Oprah Winfreys houses in the hills of the wealthy Southern California coastal town of Montecito face the danger of being gutted by a wind-driven bush fire, which has already destroyed several homes. Representatives for Lowe and Winfrey confirmed that the celebrities” homes had not been destroyed, and that neither was staying in the area Thursday night.

A few facts that put Montecito in perspective:

In 2006, Forbes magazine declared the Montecito ZIP Code the seventh-highest-priced in the U.S., and the median price of a home is $2.9 million. L.A. Times real estate writer Ann Brenoff recently described the coastal town this way:

This is a place where less is more. Forget garish Beverly Hills mansions and Bel-Air palaces that scream "look at me." Santa Barbara County's Montecito is understated elegance, English gardens and the quiet genteelness that comes from having nothing to prove. It is, however, only for the chosen few.... This is where the rich and famous come to be ignored. Many celebrities have found refuge here, including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Lowe, Kirk Douglas and Jeff Bridges. They tend to live behind gates but are often seen around town. Jonathan Winters is a regular at Tom's, the local coffee shop. These celebs -- and the captains of industry who are their neighbors -- could hardly have staked out a prettier spot. But what distinguishes it from some other places populated by the super rich is its lack of glitz and ostentatiousness.

Two years ago, The Times reported how hard it was for firefighters to live anywhere close to Montecito: "The fire near Gaviota jumped U.S. 101 and raced toward Buellton, blocking Eric Klemowicz's path to work. Duty bound, he drove east to the San Joaquin Valley, south to Castaic, west to Ventura and north to Santa Barbara County. Four hours later, the Montecito firefighter finally arrived at work. That was two years ago. But the area's high housing costs long ago pushed Klemowicz 90 miles north into the next county, near Pismo Beach.... Few places face a more acute housing problem than the Montecito Fire Protection District."

* Updated: Times Hot Property columnist Ann Brenoff reports a dramatic scene from the home of actor Christopher Lloyd:

The caretaker for actor Christopher Lloyd's house "fled for his life" in a firestorm last night, said Lisa Loiacono of Sotheby's International Realty. Loiacono manages the property for Lloyd, who is filming on location in Vancouver, Canada, and was not in Montecito. Loiacono said the property's 8 acres were all "torched," and the house "at least partially burned, if not totally." Loiacono was unable to enter the area this morning.

The house, Lloyd's main residence, had been listed for sale in the spring of 2007 at $11.3 million but was recently withdrawn from the market while he made upgrades. He owns a second, smaller, home in Montecito that is still on the market for $3.6 million.

The property believed lost is one of Montecito's more unusual homes. The 5,500-square-foot main house has one bedroom, and there is a separate guesthouse. The house was built in 1972 from adobe bricks made on site. And the living room and bedroom share an outdoor area with a large patio and stone-lined reflecting pool.

Lloyd personally cared for many of the rare and exotic plants on the grounds. It is also believed that the Mountain Drive home of Eva Loggins, Kenny Loggins' ex-wife, was destroyed by the fire.

Description of Lloyd's smaller home in The Times: "The new listing has two bedrooms and two bathrooms in 2,514 square feet and is within walking distance of Montecito's lower village.The gated house has an Asian influence, with bamboo floors and a raised bamboo pergola overlooking the pool and spa. There is also a waterfall that cascades into the pool. The home has three fireplaces and a study off the living room with built-in shelving. There are high ceilings throughout."

Update 2: Here's more from The Times' Louis Sahagun in Montecito:

Buildings located on Christopher Lloyd's property sustained major fire damage, with ruins continuing to smolder Friday afternoon. The property looks out over a panoramic view of a canyon studded with luxury homes, the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands.

Lloyd is said to personally care for many of the rare and exotic plants on the grounds, some of which perished in the fire. Among the debris was the metallic nameplate for Orphium frutescens, a South African shrublet that grows pink flowers and is commonly known as the sea rose, and Erythrina latissima, a slow-growing South African tree, commonly known as the broad-leaved coral tree, that has scarlet flowers and leathery green leaves. Besides the nameplate, all that remained were ash and a stump covered in blackened leaves.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Associated Press

Click here for more photos from the fire area.

Comments

[mickey spilane]

who cares if celebrities live there? what about the 100 homes that burned down? News in southern California is horrendous.

[Candice McElroy]

Montecito fire: What about my family members? I have a feeling the celebrities will be just fine after the fire... It's sad that the angle of most news stories focus on celebrities when there are plenty of "normal" people affected by the fire. What's their story?

[Sal]

I know, news in So Cal is so horrendous, all those mentions of celebrities...

Just like that other So Cal publication - the New York Times, which mentioned celebrities in Montecito on its top website story this morning.

Mickey - that snotty regard of yours is so passe.

[Robert]

Who cares about the celebrities? Celebrities are no better then the other people that live in Montecito that lost their homes

[Scott near Montecito]

I'm not sure what you'd classify as "normal", but if you mean middle-income people, there aren't any. Not in that neighborhood. You don't even walk in and look without having at least $3M as a low price. If you want something nicer than entry level it goes up from there.

[Edward]

it'd be interesting to know how they voted on prop 8.

[Jackie]

If you want to know how they voted on Prop 8- the likely answer is that they voted NO. Because, I am proud to say that SB County was one of the few that voted NO.

[Ellen]

Well, the public curiosity is what sells People magazine every week!

Just think about all the kids that were living in two dorms at Westmont College that were wiped out in the fire. And because housing is so expensive, a few years ago some nice, small houses to accomodate faculty and families were built...at least 12 of those were lost as well. How would a college kid feel, living away from home for the first time, with the few precious belongings they have with them lost in a fire (to say nothing of the books and study materials they have lost)?

[Adam]

Oh, no! I hope the fire is contained soon. It would be a shame to have homes, especially celebrities' homes destroyed :'(

[Livinator]

There actually are some middle income houses in the immediate area; Westmont College is in Montecito, and has been lucky enough to build low-income faculty housing next door. College professors (and firemen) can hardly be expected to pay the exorbitant prices in Montecito's real estate. However, at least 12 of these faculty homes were burned completely to the ground in a matter of hours. These professors and their families do not have the vast resources of their neighbors, and have lost a great deal more than Oprah or Rob Lowe ever could. The loss of their homes will impact the college a great deal more than the loss of a few classroom buildings. 12 faculty members represents a large percentage of the faculty numbers.

[geoff grant]

who cares about the celebrities - they're people too. How about devoting some coverage and attention to the fire fighters who are battling the flames. I'm more interested to know if the injured heros are OK. I could care less if Oprah, Rob Lowe or the others had to hang tight in one of their other houses for several weeks.

[Katet]

I was born and grew up where the fire is burning. Montecito and the Riviera are hugely expensive nowadays, and some homes always were. But there are PLENTY of people in all areas who have been there forever and bought their homes for "normal" prices. My gran bought our house for $30,000. Does she deserve to lose it? Is she a celebrity? Just because these areas have gained notoriety because of the people who have moved there recently doesn't mean that there aren't regular people there. Let's have some common sense and empathy. Yes, the people who are losing their second or third home won't really feel the pinch, but there are hundreds of others who will.

[Sally]

ummmm the part about Chris Lloyd's house getting burned is not true. I live on his street and it's fine. I'm glad there are minimal casualties. I try to remind myself that it is just stuff!!! People and animals are the priorities.

p.s. about prop 8 voted no...but wondering if new voters misread the prop and voted wrong?

[Jason K]

What a ridiculous article- not to beat a dead horse but.......WHO CARES about the celebrity's. But Christopher Lloyd, now there's a story..........

[Julia]

I lost my 1 bedroom apartment last month to the Chatsworth fire, and lost everything that belonged to both sets of grandparents, Like a 110-year-old Grandfather clock, jewelry and paintings my grandmother painted. I am now living with my parents and starting over, but feeling a huge void of posessions that were my little world. I was sad to see more destruction of homes from fires last nght. So to make a big deal about the rich and famous losing their homes is really pathetic. I feel more empathy for the homeless man and his dog that lost their lives in their makeshift-shack in Chatsworth. Now that is a tragedy! Stay focused people. Celebrity, gay, straight, rich, unemployed, homeless, black , white, latino, or any nationality, it is really sad when anyone is affected by the fires. We all have something to lose! No person's life is more important than anothers just because of the dollar amount.

[tom]

How about the fact that firefighters can't afford to live anywhere NEAR Montecito if and when a fire breaks out. They have to drive for hours just to get there! Perhaps the city of the wealthy and famous should consider that!

[joseph]

If less is more in Montecito,then Times writer Ann Brenoff,obviously has never seen Oprah's simple abode.

[syscom3]

I am sick and tired of hearing about celebrity this and celebrity that.

They dont care about me, so I am not going to care about them. Their homes can burn away for all I care.

[h]

Does anyone know if Lotusland is ok? They have some extremely rare plants that are irreplaceable...

[Jennifer]

It's the media that focuses on the celebrities losing their homes in the fire, not the celebrities themselves. Fires destroy personal loved possessions lost forever, lets not forget you have your lives to live for and rebuild, that is what's most important. Hopefully owners have house insurance to cover the majority of their possessions. This is a devastating situation for all involved including the firefighters who give their lives to save people and their homes.

[Cheryl]

OK... enough with these celebraties and their poopr homes being in danger! Everyone is well aware of the fact that they can just make a pjone call and have their personal assistants, house cleaners, movers... whatever... Make a simple phone call to their Real estate broker and move in to a new place in a day. What about the TRUE Santa Barbara residents, who have gone through this over and over again,had to rebuild, regrouped their lives, grieved and also financially been severiouly burdened by these acts of nature. I agree, it is insulting to the Santa Barbara working class, that are constantly struggling to live here because they can't afford to move elsewhere. STOP and think of the persons that really made Santa Barbara the place that these celebrities chose to live.

[jd]

I just heard on FOX that Rob Lowe's house burned, he was home at the time and had to run for his life.

[amybou]

There are actually plenty of middle class people in Santa Barbara and Montecito. They are teachers, nurses, graduate students, professionals, and people who work in the service industry, and many of them rent guest cottages, studio apartments, and converted garages in the homes of wealthy residents in SB and Montecito.

[rt]

Good thing Rob's house is OK. He would have been spending alot of time at his beach house featured here http://www.pc.com/learn/videos

[Pam]

I have a daughter who lives in Santa Barbara; she has several college friends who live i the hills of Santa Barbara. These are students in rental properties who have had to exacuate. If these homes are lost, there will be a lot of students who can't afford to stay in the area- who's going to help them?? Will the property owners rebuild? Let's hope everyone helps everyone, despite their income