SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters have completely surrounded a 44-acre wildfire that briefly threatened 100 homes in rugged hillsides north of Santa Barbara.
Authorities said 100 percent containment was achieved about 5 p.m. Thursday, after ground crews were helped by 14 aircraft to battle flames that erupted Wednesday in rocky, chaparral-covered foothills about 10 miles north of the scenic coastal town.
About 100 homes were threatened at the afternoon height of the blaze, and about 40 of the homes were evacuated. Residents were allowed to return just a few hours later.
One firefighter suffered a minor leg injury.
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.
