Briefs

Wildfire scorches Santa Barbara:

GAVIOTA, Calif. “”mdash; A wildfire that prompted the evacuation
of about 500 people burned out of control Sunday across 6,000 acres
in Santa Barbara County.

The blaze threatened 150 homes in the gated community of
Hollister Ranch as people were ordered to leave three state
beaches, said Jan Purkett, a spokeswoman for the county fire
department.

Officials worried that the combination of high temperatures and
strong winds could create extreme fire behavior Sunday, hampering
firefighting efforts.

Nearly 330 firefighters, aided by cooler conditions, worked the
blaze overnight, said fire department spokesman Barry Peckham.
Reinforcements and additional equipment streamed in Sunday; more
than 500 firefighters eventually are expected to be on the fire
lines.

There were no reports of injuries.

Compiled from Bruin reports and wire services.