Looking Back at the Tea Fire, One Month Later

The focus has turned to the erosion problem in the burn area, and the investigation continues.

By Sonia Fernandez, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Published on 12.23.2008

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It’s a cool morning at Fire Station 7 in the foothills of Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara City Fire public information officer John Ahlman is ruminating over the recent news that officials have declared fire season a year-round phenomenon.

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Jute matting is fastened to a charred hillside to help prevent erosion. The bare dirt on steep slopes presents a huge risk of flooding. (Michelle J. Wong / Noozhawk photo)
“From my experience, I could have started preaching that 30 years ago,” the former fire chief said. A veteran of wildfires for nearly 40 years, Ahlman has seen blazes in the cold winter months, the wet spring months and the high-risk summer and fall months. Since that proclamation, the county has entered into the “low risk” phase of the year, acknowledging that a fire still could break out if the conditions are right.

Saying it now may sound like preaching to the choir, but fire has always been a part of Southern California climate and ecology. Sequoia tree seeds, for instance, require bare dirt to germinate, and have relied on fire to clear that space on the ground for them.

Native tribes are said to have set prescribed burns back in the prehistoric days to help with food production and to reduce the fuel for fires they knew were going to happen.

Those facts are of no comfort, however, to the Sycamore Canyon residents and neighbors who took the brunt of last month’s Tea Fire. After taking a few turns on Coyote Road up to Mountain Drive, Ahlman stops to point out a blackened vista of charred trees and sooty earth. Sundowner winds drove the flames that started just above from the Tea Gardens on Nov. 13, into the canyon below. 

“It was almost like the Sycamore Fire,” he said, recalling the blaze that started in 1977 in the same general area when someone’s kite wrapped on power lines, causing sparks that ignited the foliage.

Unlike the relatively small Sycamore Fire, though, the Tea Fire ranged to nearly 2,000 acres, pushed by winds and aided by dry conditions. By the time Ahlman made it to the area from Goleta that evening, he found himself dodging embers in his two-seater smart car, the only vehicle he had available. The smoke was so thick, he said, he could barely make out the road.

In the days after the last of the Tea Fire was put out, Ahlman said, it was a challenge to get exact numbers on the structures burned (210 destroyed, nine damaged). Some houses burned while others remained relatively unscathed. Stone houses were destroyed while wooden ones remained upright.

“Here’s an example of the kind of house that could survive that fire,” he said, pointing to a nearby home. Its flame-resistant construction, low and succulent landscaping, and, most importantly, the brush-free space around it made all the difference. That, and a space wide enough for a fire engine to park.

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“People say, ‘This house survived, but that one didn’t; it’s a miracle,’” Ahlman said. “But a lot of times it’s not a miracle.” A lot of times it’s firefighters.

What he considers a miracle is that Lance and Carla Hoffman were able to make it to Station 7 from their house, a rented cottage quite a ways away by winding road. The Hoffmans, now recovering, are probably the most severely injured by the Tea Fire. At this point, Ahlman’s still not sure what route they took. Either way, it’s a long trip.

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Santa Barbara City Fire public information officer John Ahlman reflects on the Tea Fire’s effects on the area. (Michelle J. Wong / Noozhawk photo)
“(Lance) was in very bad shape when they got to Station 7,” Ahlman said. “Sometimes, when you’ve got that adrenaline, you just do what you need to do.”

The pair were treated at the station before being taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, then to the UC Irvine Regional Burn Center.

Now, a month and several rains later, the focus has turned to the significant erosion problem presented by the bare dirt on steep slopes. A heavy enough rain and neighborhoods along Santa Barbara’s lower east side will be flooded. Recent rains already have resulted in road closures and small landslides.

County Flood Control and local residents have been racing to do what they can before the winter weather takes over. Sandbags are lining the entrances to many of the homes in the neighborhoods, and jute matting is being fastened to the hillside to hold it together. Streams are cleared, debris racks installed, hydromulch applied — and fingers crossed.

“The entire watershed and downstream system of Sycamore Creek is our main concern,” Flood Control’s Tom Fayram said.

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“People say, ‘This house survived, but that one didn’t; it’s a miracle,’” Santa Barbara City Fire public information officer John Ahlman says. “But a lot of times it’s not a miracle.” A lot of times it’s firefighters. (Michelle J. Wong / Noozhawk photo)
Meanwhile, the investigation into the cause of the Tea Fire continues. Since Santa Barbara City College‘s announcement that nine of the 10 individuals suspected of starting the fire were from that school, precious little, if anything else has been confirmed by authorities.

Instead, rumors and speculation in the community continue to circulate as to who the individuals were, and why their names have not been released. Residents are demanding punishment, while some of those affected are calling for clearer heads.

“There certainly was a lot of finger-pointing,” said Scott Craig, Westmont College media relations manager. After the sheriff’s revelation in November that the people responsible for the blaze were from some local school, Westmont’s name, because of the college’s proximity to the fire’s point of origin, came up.

“There was a certain degree of carelessness, but there was no malicious intent, so it’ll be interesting to see how this shakes out,” Craig said.

The college suffered extensive damage to its campus, including its physics and math buildings and residence halls. Fourteen faculty homes were burned. According to Craig, Westmont President Gayle Beebe’s house was barely saved.

Still, Craig said, with the help of the community, the college is moving on.

“The outpouring of support from the local community, it really helps in these difficult times, in the rebuilding process,” he said.

Write to sfernandez@noozhawk.com.

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» DW on 12.24.08 @ 06:24 AM

There is some great post-fire Erosion Control information available freely on the website for Erosion Control magazine (published right here in Santa Barbara).  Check out http://www.ErosionControl.com and search for whatever you’re looking for.


» Christine Lyon on 12.24.08 @ 08:39 AM

As one of the very lucky Tea Fire residents who narrowly escaped the loss of our home, I would urge the young people responsible for the fire to come forward and face our community. Based on the information available, it seems no malice was intended and that they made every effort to put out the fire before leaving the Tea Garden. However, it is as important for them as it is for many of us that they take responsbility and do whatever they can to redeem themselves. Surely working alongside homeowners to clean-up and restore their properies would be a start. Perhaps each and every one of these young people can devote the next couple of years working along side residents as they rebuild their homes and their lives.  Causing this tragedy, although accidental, is something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. I do not mean in any way to under estimate the emotional and financial hardship that so many of my neighbors are facing as a result of this fire, but perhaps if these young people have the courage to come face to face with Tea Fire residents a healing process for both sides can begin.


» Fire Victim on 12.24.08 @ 04:47 PM

I doubt that many people are going to be very understanding about the carelessness of the “gang of 10”.
It really doesn’t have to be explained the hardship that the carelessness of this group has caused many, many people.
For us, it has meant reevaluating our lives, a difficult thing to do at any age, but especially difficult when you are in your later years, and looking forward to retire in a house with an affordable mortgage attached to it.
Being underinsured has caused us to wonder if our savings will cover the enormous cost of rebuilding, which will take approximately two years, or to use those savings to move away from the area, compromise our lifestyle and try to buy something that we might be able to afford to live in.
It is understandable that this “gangs” identities have not been revealed.
Wasn’t the person that caused the fire with his kite, all those years ago, having survived death threats, eventually drummed out of town?
I would like to know how any one of this gang’s lifestyle has been compromised
I hope the members of this gang are made to pay in some way for their carelessness.


» Henry Fechtman on 12.24.08 @ 06:33 PM

I am curious as to who caused the Tea Fire.  Why the delay in information on who may have done this?


» David Pritchett on 12.25.08 @ 08:05 AM

Here is a video documentary on Tea Fire:

http://www.offleashpublicaffairs.net/2008/11/episode-031-tea-fire-citizen.html

or, look up Episode 031 at “Off-Leash Public Affairs”


» Another Fire Victim on 12.25.08 @ 08:51 AM

Hi Henry,
The Fire Victim’s letter before yours might address your question.
Law authorities might be cautious of a “lynch mob” mentality that may exist.


» Andy Rosenberger on 12.26.08 @ 12:07 PM

I, too survived the Tea fire.

It was a combination of the weather changing and a group of engines that were able to come in after the wind layed down.  Engine 13 from SB County and an engine from Long Beach helped us here on Mountain Drive.

After thirty years in the fire service, I know that even with good defensible space and a well-built house, ANYTHING can burn in 40 plus MPH winds and such low relative humidity values.

As for the group who built the bonfire, how about the citizens who observed it the night before and didn’t call it in?  Of course it is just a presumption, but I am betting that someone did indeed see it. 

Best of luck to the fire survivors.  I assisted the Painted Cave Fire survivors during the rebuilding process in 1990, and hanging in there is important.  Hard but important.

Keep the faith!


» Jim Sweas on 12.29.08 @ 05:55 AM

The Tea House fire was life threatening destruction as a result of human carelessness, period. Tea House was no act of God like some lightening storm or catastrophic seismic event. This was no-excuse human stupidity fueled by plenty of chaparral and further complicated by unpredictable sundowner winds and the darkness of nightfall.

I am living in a rebuilt home that was completely destroyed in the 1990 Painted Cave fire (nearly 650 houses lost). I am still puzzled why the word “bonfire” is even in the vocabulary of otherwise educated Santa Barbarans.

To all the adults who allow or even encourage such borderline pyromania in this well documented tinder box in which we live, I say shame on you for your thoughtlessness. Yes, we are astute enough to ban the striking of a match in all other public spaces for health reasons. Where’s the outrage over something as senseless as a bonfire in a populated area?

Then again, just four months earlier while I was responding to our warning from the County and feverishly packing suitcases and computers during the Gap fire scare, out my window were the unthinking, uncaring, insensitive traditionalists blowing off fireworks, presumably celebrating their 4th of July independence. What an ironic but convenient distraction from their neighbors’ travail. No doubt plenty of their kids and grandkids were in attendance. Perhaps the perfect lesson for future inconsiderate, self indulgent fire starters.


» Jim Sweas on 12.29.08 @ 08:49 AM

The Tea House fire was life threatening destruction as a result of human carelessness, period. Tea House was no act of God like some lightening storm or catastrophic seismic event. This was no-excuse human stupidity fueled by plenty of chaparral and further complicated by unpredictable sundowner winds and the darkness of nightfall.

I am living in a rebuilt home that was completely destroyed in the 1990 Painted Cave fire (nearly 650 houses lost). I am still puzzled why the word “bonfire” is even in the vocabulary of otherwise educated Santa Barbarans.

To all the adults who allow or even encourage such borderline pyromania in this well documented tinder box in which we live, I say shame on you for your thoughtlessness. Yes, we are astute enough to ban the striking of a match in all other public spaces for health reasons. Where’s the outrage over something as senseless as a bonfire in a populated area?

Then again, just four months earlier while I was responding to our warning from the County and feverishly packing suitcases and computers during the Gap fire scare, out my window were the unthinking, uncaring, insensitive traditionalists blowing off fireworks, presumably celebrating their 4th of July independence. What an ironic but convenient distraction from their neighbors’ travail. No doubt plenty of their kids and grandkids were in attendance. Perhaps the perfect lesson for future inconsiderate, self indulgent fire starters.


» J. Douglas Crawford - Tea Fire Survivor on 12.31.08 @ 03:40 AM

Our home was destroyed by the fire, but our lives were not. Accidents happen all of the time. That is why we are insured. The winds before and during the fire were cyclone force. There could have been any number of causes of a fire with the conditions that existed on 11/13/08. It is inconceivable to me that the fire the young people had put out the night before somehome reignited some 3-5 hours after the high winds started.
Thank God we all don’t “get what we deserve” when we do foolish, hurtful or careless things to other people.
What we need to give here is “Grace.” Whatever the cause of the fire, unless it was intentionally set, we need to make sure that the cause is determined and that we work to mitigate similar causes in the future. In the mean time, I would be glad to provide whoever or whatever accidentally caused the fire an opportunity to work with us to rebuild.


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