SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — An aggressive air and ground attack and tamer-than-expected winds have helped firefighters gain a foothold on a wildfire in the hills overlooking Santa Barbara, California.
There were worries that afternoon winds Wednesday would make it much bigger, but firefighters were able to stop its progress, and it's now 40 percent contained
Four helicopters and two air tankers were aiding firefighters on the ground, who were supported by 16 fire engines and several hand crews.
At the fire's height, the fire threatened about 100 homes and deputies went door to door telling people to leave the area. Residents have since been allowed to return
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but fire officials say some power lines were down in the area.
The area, about 75 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, is known as a fire hazard, especially when "sundowner" winds begin to blow through the canyons toward the ocean in the afternoon.
%@AP Links
APPHOTO CABAR106: Water drops from a helicopter as firefighters battle a wildfire in the Painted Cave area of Santa Barbara, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The wildfire in the rugged hills overlooking Santa Barbara threatened about 100 homes in the area where a fire in 1990 killed one person and burned about 550 homes. (AP Photo/The News-Press, Rafael Maldonado) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO CABAR106 (10/17/12)>>
APPHOTO CABAR107: The Lookout Fire burns in the Painted Cave area of Santa Barbara, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The wildfire in the rugged hills overlooking Santa Barbara threatened about 100 homes in the area where a fire in 1990 killed one person and burned about 550 homes. (AP Photo/The News-Press, Steve Malone) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO CABAR107 (10/17/12)>>
APPHOTO CABAR104: Firefighters battle a wildfire in the Painted Cave area of Santa Barbara, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The wildfire in the rugged hills overlooking Santa Barbara threatened about 100 homes in the area where a fire in 1990 killed one person and burned about 550 homes. (AP Photo/The News-Press, Mike Eliason) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO CABAR104 (10/17/12)>>
APPHOTO CABAR102: Firefighters and forest service employees watch a wildfire burn in the Painted Cave area of Santa Barbara, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The wildfire in the rugged hills overlooking Santa Barbara threatened about 100 homes in the area where a fire in 1990 killed one person and burned about 550 homes. (AP Photo/The News-Press, Nik Blaskovich) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO CABAR102 (10/17/12)>>
APPHOTO CABAR101: Firefighters and a fixed-wing aircraft battle a wildfire in the Painted Cave area of Santa Barbara, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. The wildfire in the rugged hills overlooking Santa Barbara threatened about 100 homes in the area where a fire in 1990 killed one person and burned about 550 homes. (AP Photo/The News-Press, Mike Eliason) (17 Oct 2012)
<<APPHOTO CABAR101 (10/17/12)>>
