California Wildfires

A firefighter works to put out a spot fire near Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, May 7, 2009. Firefighters struggled early Friday to get ahead of a raging wildfire that was moving dangerously close to heavily populated areas in this idyllic coastal city.

Firefighters prepare to make a stand as the sun sets over Rattlesnake Canyon near Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, May 7, 2009. The fire remained out of control and firefighters were on alert for a predicted return of the "Sundowner" fierce winds that late in the day can sweep down from the Santa Ynez Mountains towering close behind Santa Barbara.

A firefighting aircraft drops retardant on the flames burning over a ridge into Rattlesnake Canyon near Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, May 7, 2009.

A firefighting helicopter prepares to drop water on flames burning over a ridge into Rattlesnake Canyon near Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, May 7, 2009.

A home on Holly Drive in the hills above Santa Barbara, Calif., goes up in flames as a wind-whipped brush fire roared through the area on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Salinas Fire Department firefighters stand watch over a home as it burns in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Looking in the front door of a home on Tunnel Canyon Road, in the hills above Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, nothing but fire can be seen. Fierce winds blew a wildfire into Southern California homes Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to flee as columns of smoke rose from a scenic coastal enclave.

Flames glow as structures burn after sundown as California wildfires burn in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Captain Mark Beeson with the Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. radios from the scene of a fully engulfed house on Montrose Place in Santa Barbara, Calif., as the Jesusita Fire destroys homes on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. While this structure was a complete loss, the house next door stood untouched.

A plane douses the hillside above Mission Canyon in Santa Barbara, Calif., Wednesday, May 6, 2009. A stalled wildfire roared back to life Wednesday as gusting winds swooped down from mountains behind the city, pushing flames toward neighborhoods below and sending a plume of smoke out to sea.

A fire surveillance aircraft makes its way over homes as California wildfires burn structures and hillsides in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

A home burns in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Fierce winds blow a wildfire into Southern California homes Wednesday, May 6, 2009, forcing thousands of people to flee and detroying both mansions and humble homes.

A United States Forest Service firefighter stands ready as the Jesusita fire burns in the hills of Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

California wildfires burn structures and hillsides in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

The Jesusita fire burns in the foothills above Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Southern California authorities said early Wednesday the wildfire is threatening 2,000 Santa Barbara homes and has grown to 400 acres. Santa Barbara County spokeswoman Pat Wheatley says the fire has pulled within a half-mile of some neighborhoods.

The Jesusita fire burns in the foothills above Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The fire began Tuesday afternoon in the foothills above San Roque Canyon and quickly grew.

Santa Barbara resident Bill Yule watches as a wildfire burns in the hills of Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.

A Montecito firefighter surveys the property of a threatened home on Jesusita Lane Tuesday, May 5, 2009, as his crew provides structure protection from the wind-driven "Jesusita fire" that forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 foothill residences as more than 400 acres of brush burned in Santa Barbara.

A brush fire burns in heavy vegetation in the foothills north of Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Mandatory evacuations are in effect across a wide area as authorities try to get people to safer ground before high winds kick up.