mddesignhomes.com

By Sonia Fernandez, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Posted on 12/24/2008

The focus has turned to the erosion problem in the burn area, and the investigation continues.

It’s a cool morning at Fire Station 7 in the foothills of Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara City Fire public information officer John Ahlman is ruminating over the recent news that officials have declared fire season a year-round phenomenon.

Jute matting is fastened to a charred hillside to help prevent erosion. The bare dirt on steep s… Continue

32 years in Santa Barbara.

Experienced in the approval process of permits.

Knowledgeable of current codes.

Accurate, detailed and creative plan packages.

Compassionate pricing.

(As a child, I lost my home in a wildfire.)

Paul 805 284-3213

MARCI WORMSER, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
December 17, 2008 7:04 AM

The six monastic brothers who resided at the Mount Calvary Monastery and Retreat House in the hills above Santa Barbara have been left in a state of limbo since the monastery burned to the ground in the Tea Fire last mo… Continue

Dave Mason, Newspress Staff Writer

December 13, 2008 6:32 AM

Six to seven tons of furniture, clothing, appliances and other donations are now being processed daily for Tea Fire victims and others in need, according to Salvation Army Corps Capt. John Greholver.

"We're getting all kinds of furniture -- beds, mattresses, couches and dinette sets," Capt. Greholver said by phone. "We get refrigerators, washers and dryers."

Furniture donations vary among nonprofit organizations, but they're ready… Continue

SCOTT STEEPLETON, NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR December 10, 2008 12:00 AM

A Santa Barbara family is asking for just one thing this Christmas: to have their 11-year-old Border Collie mix back.

Sally was last seen Nov. 13, the day the Tea Fire started, on La Paz Road.

Her human companions,… Continue

SCOTT STEEPLETON, NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

December 9, 2008 6:57 AM

The holidays could look especially bleak to the children whose homes were destroyed in the Tea Fire. At Cold Spring School, where 16 families lost it all to the 1,940-acre blaze, parents are hoping to make some of those children's wishes come true.

"We're trying to get a Christmas present to every child who lost all their belongings," said Dina Barton, who chairs the Wish List Committee at the nearly 200-student campus.

"… Continue

Source: County of SB

County staff continues to make significant progress with response plans to help residents recover from the Tea Fire, including the issuance of more than 100 permits for demolition and debris removal, County officials announced today.

“The County has mobilized a large-scale, multi-department recovery effort with the goal of helping our county residents re-build their homes and lives as quickly as possible,” said Salud Carbajal, First District Supervisor and Board Chair.

“I… Continue

By Starshine Roshell

One minute you’re curling up with a cup of tea. The next you’re dashing for your life. When a wildfire howls up your hillside, instinct tells you just what to do: Drop the teacup and run.

But what if you had time to grab an armful of valuables? Or cram a crate full of them? Or even pack a whole car?

Whether you lost your home in the Tea Fire, or know someone who did — or came no closer than wringing your hands and recoiling at the smell of blazing, far-off neighborhoods i… Continue

Performance Memories would like to replace the DVDs (from the last 6 years) that any of our customers lost in the fire, FREE OF CHARGE. Please email us at perfmem@cox.net or call 969-7400 to let us know that you need replacements - Our records will tell us which DVDs you have ordered from us.
Bill Budd and Betty Farrelly

After the Fire:
Reflections On The Loss of Our Home
Rich and Karen
11-26-08

We want to thank you all for writing to express your concerns and support. Please excuse this blanket response, but we are immersed in the details of re-establishing our lives, both practically and emotionally. This turns out to be both time-consuming and exhausting. As you know, Karen and I have biked many high passes and run many hilly trails; this is by far the greatest challenge we have faced.

We owe special thanks… Continue

By Alice MacDonald.

As I look at the pictures of the devastation left by the Tea Fire, I am reminded of the Painted Cave Fire of June 27, 1990. The devastation is the same. The people in the pictures are different. My heart is with all of those who lost so many things that held meaning for them and their families.

I offer the following reflection, which I wrote in the eighth anniversary of the Painted Cave Fire, in hopes that all those who lost homes might feel a little less alone.

In 1990, t… Continue

I am a local Macintosh computer consultant offering my services. Additionally, I work at MacMechanic and we are exploring how we might assist our community. Please email or call with further questions. woody@macmechanic.com, w) 805-965-9722 ext 108 (let ring for an extended period).

I can provide free or reduced cost support in all things related to Apple products. I may be able to provide modest discounts on products.

I'm out in Goleta near Brandon School.. am still going thru things to see what
I can donate. Not sure if clothing is still needed; of so, please let me know.
Rose Ogden

I've looked all over and can't find the original post . . . don't know if it was a blog, a group message, a discussion or a forum post. ???? There were two different listings, each that gave contact phone numbers.

I have a friend that could really use that serivce. I see that AA is offering a month, but more than a month would be awesome.

If anyone can find the post, please let me know.

Thanks!

Stacy

My family lives in the fire affected area and I was just surveying some of the residences that were burned down. While my family's property was spared, there are a lot of people who are bummin. It just cuts to the bone to talk to some of the folks as they dig through the ashes of what was once their homestead. It's like their whole livelihood has been sucked from their souls. The pain and shock five days after the fire started is still so very evident in their faces. I mean, I have never seen or… Continue

A local contractor has renewed his challenge to the community, first made in the immediate aftermath of the Tea Fire, to rise up in an effort to help victims of the destructive blaze.

David Lack has started the Tea Fire Victims Lack Challenge, in which he will match up to $10,000 of contributions to a fund set up at Bank of Santa Barbara.

"Last week's Tea Fire has destroyed the homes of many of our friends, neighbors and fellow citizens. Most of these folks are now homeless, grief stricken, an… Continue

I own a local mobile computer repair company, Mr. Pink Computer Shrink, and we are offering free computer assistance to all fire victims.

If you have gotten a new computer since the fire, we will make sure all virus and spyware programs are installed, configure your email account(s), set-up your wireless connection, get any and all updates installed, etc. for free through December 15th (we will consider extending this date if needed).

As well, If you need a computer, let us know and we will tr… Continue

I'm glad that there is a forum for victims and for those who want to help. I've been sitting here wondering how best I can help someone in need. I don't know, but I just have this awful feeling that there is a lot of pain to go around - and I just want to do something.

I think it's vitally important to get the word out about this site, especially to the victims of the Tea Fire. I'm not sure how best to do this, but I know word-of-mouth works like, pardon the pun, wildfire. Many of us know someo… Continue

The 'Tea Fire,' which started last Thursday night, has devastated the Montecito and Santa Barbara areas.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Athletics Department has made available 500 tickets to any future men's or women's basketball game for victims of the Tea Fire that has devastated the Montecito and Santa Barbara area over the past several days, Athletics Director Mark Massari announced Monday. The Friday, Nov. 21 game against North Carolina is not included in the offer.

"If we c… Continue