In November 2008, Santa Barbara's luck ran out. The third major fire
within 18 months destroyed 210 homes, damaged 9 others, and put a
young couple into the hospital with very bad burns. Note the
burned hills in the distance.

The Tea Fire derives its name from the abandoned tea gardens property
where the fire started. As with the two other fires, this fire was
caused by people, in this case, college kids having a bonfire in the
hills. The dry fierce winds that we occasionally get then quickly
spread the destruction.