Response and Resources
"My family and I have come many, many times to the Santa Barbara area. We think it’s the most beautiful area. But the area we walked around today looked like hell". (Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, November 15, 2008)
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Santa Barbara County due to the Tea Fire. Schwarzenegger issued a statement that he was "making all state resources available to the fire commanders and was requesting assistance from the federal government as well."
On November 14, 2008, 1,141 personnel were on the scene, including 260 from CalFire, and 25 fire crews. They were supported by 193 engines, 7 dozers, and 1 watertender. Resources were expanded on November 15 to include 2,235 firefighters and 9 helicopters with cost estimates of $3.5 million, which increased to $3.9 million the following day.
Staffed from 8 a.m. to midnight, a public information call center was established to provide updates and status reports. Information was made available on the County Government-access television (GATV) cable TV station, as well as specific AM and FM radios that provided Emergency Public Information. CSBTV Channel 20 ran Live Video Stream.
San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara became an emergency shelter, operated by the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter. Earl Warren Showgrounds was opened for large animal evacuees, while small animals could be brought to the Santa Barbara Humane Society in Goleta.
Read more about this topic: Montecito Tea Fire
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—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
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