Thread: Huge CA. wildfire caused by Mexican pot farm cooking fire

Huge Santa Barbara wildfire caused by marijuana farm; suspects at large in forest

August 16, 2009 | 8:26 am

A fire that has burned more than 75,000 acres in Santa Barbara County over the last week was started in an illegal marijuana growing area operated by a Mexican drug organization, authorities said.

Authorities said they confirmed that the blaze, which is burning out of control, started in a cooking area of the pot farm. They believe those responsible are still in the forest area trying leave the forest by foot.

"The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit has confirmed that the camp at the origin of the fire was an illegal marijuana operation believed to be run by a Mexican national drug organization," according to a statement from the Los Padres National Forest. "The Narcotics Unit has been working in the area within the last month eradicating other nearby marijuana cultivation sites."

The location of those who ran the pot farm isn't known, but forest officials warn "not to approach anyone who looks suspicious but to instead contact the nearest law enforcement agency."

The fire, known as the La Brea fire, is now 25% contained. Vicki Collins, a fire information spokeswoman at Los Padres, said that although the La Brea fire was only 10% contained by Friday night, firefighters successfully charred some lines in front of the fire in the Tepusquet Canyon area, depriving the blaze of new fuel.

Since the fire started Aug. 8, about 234 residences have been evacuated. Collins said if firefighting efforts continue to be successful, residents might be able to get back into their homes within a couple of days. Progress has been slow on this fire because of the low humidity, 90-degree temperatures and remote terrain.

She said they still have no crews on the ground in some wilderness areas, such as the Sisquoc River area.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us yet, though things are looking fairly good on a couple flanks of this fire,â€

That blaze, which started Wednesday, has burned nearly 7,000 acres. By this morning, the fire was 30% contained, officials said. About 2,400 people have been evacuated in areas including Swanton and Bonny Doon.

I wonder what all the libs in this area are thinking about thier precious IA's now??? I went to Bonny Doon (which is near Santa Cruz) about 10 years ago on a road trip. The whole area is gorgeous, but totally overrun by lesbians, libs, etc....

What are they thinking now? Probably: 1. There really is no PROOF IA's caused this ---the fire has burned the 'proof' up with it 2. Stop bashing undocumented immigrants because your average white college student will not take a job fighting forest fires. 3. Marijuana is vital to the well being of the State of California because so many Californians are sick and need comfort (even if they are sick from other drugs)

My understanding is that there are firefighters from Australia and New Zealand willing to come here during their off season and help out.