Bonfire built by students caused Montecito fire, sheriff says
The suspects say they thought the fire had gone out when they left the ridge-top site Thursday morning. The D.A.'s office will decide if they will be charged with any crimes.
Reporting from Los Angeles and Montecito — A smoldering bonfire built by students on a ridge-top overlooking Montecito apparently sparked last week's disastrous Tea fire, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said Tuesday.
Ten men and women, ranging in age from 18 to 22, had gathered at an abandoned property called the Teahouse late Wednesday night and built a bonfire to warm themselves, Brown said.
They told fire investigators that they thought the bonfire was out when they left early Thursday morning . But embers continued to smolder for more than 12 hours and were reignited by Santa Ana-type winds that evening, authorities said.
In what became one of Santa Barbara County's most destructive wildfires, fast-moving flames destroyed 210 homes and damaged nine others. At least 25 people were injured, three of them with burns.
Brown told a new conference that investigators believe that the group did not intend to start a wildfire.
"It appears this was the result of carelessness," he said.
Brown declined to identify any of the men and women involved, saying that the matter was still under investigation. However, he said they all lived locally and attended the same school. He declined to say which one.
Westmont College, a Christian university with 1,200 students, sits immediately below the mountain ridge where the Teahouse is located. But Brown would not confirm or deny that students from the private campus were involved.
"I won't comment on that," Brown said.
The group could face charges of negligence or recklessness with fire, he said. It will be up to the district attorney's office to decide what, if any, criminal charges will be filed once the investigation is completed, Brown said.
Investigators learned about the group's late-night outing from an anonymous tipster who called a fire hotline, Brown said. Each person was then contacted and questioned about the night's activities, he said.
"They have been cooperative," Brown said of the suspects.
Nancy Phinney, a Westmont spokeswoman, said the college did not think that any of its students were involved. The school lost several buildings and 14 faculty homes in the fire.
"We have been working closely and cooperating fully with fire officials and at no point has anyone said that any of our students have been implicated," Phinney said.
