It dropped from the headlines weeks ago, but some firefighters are still mopping up the Whittier brush fire in Santa Barbara County.
The 18,000 acre fire in the Santa Ynez Mountains south of Lake Cachuma started nearly a month ago, on July 8th. The fire destroyed 16 homes, and a number of other structures as it raged out of control during its first few days. Containment remains at 87%.
More than 70 firefighters, aided by a helicopter continue to monitor the blaze and to look for hot spots. Firefighters had hoped to have full containment by August 1st, but the area of the fire that still doesn’t have a fire line is a rugged, remote area that’s difficult to access.
