Wildfire burns above Santa Barbara, Calif.; 1,200 homes ordered evacuated

1,200 homes ordered evacuated amid Calif. wildfire

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Southern California authorities say a wildfire threatening 2,000 Santa Barbara homes has grown to 400 acres.

Santa Barbara County spokeswoman Pat Wheatley says the fire has pulled within a half-mile of some neighborhoods. The fire began Tuesday afternoon in the foothills above San Roque Canyon and quickly grew.

Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki says about 1,200 homes have been ordered evacuated. No structures had been lost and there is zero containment.

Weather officials say the blaze is being pushed by 20-30 mph winds with gusts to 50 mph.

To the east, a fire burning in southeastern Arizona near Fort Huachuca has scorched four or five homes and injured one person. The U.S. Forest Service says the fire has burned about 2,000 acres in the mostly rural area.