Firefighters say they’ve now confirmed that 12 homes were destroyed by Santa Barbara County’s Alisal brush fire.
The fire burned more than 17,280 acres of land, and is 97% contained. Full containment is still projected for October 25.
Firefighters have been trying to close some remaining gaps in the containment line on the northwest side of the fire.
The blaze started October 11 near Alisal Reservoir, and the wind quickly pushed it south out of the Santa Ynez Mountains down to the Gaviota Coast. Highway 101 was closed by the fire for three days.
With the fire now in the mopup phase, more than a third of the 1700 plus fire personnel assigned to the blaze have been released, and sent home.
