January 9th marks a painful anniversary in Santa Barbara County. It’s the five year anniversary of the deadly Montecito debris flow, which killed 23 people, and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes.
After the December, 2017 Thomas wildfire stripped brush from hillsides above the community, a powerful storm sent torrents of boulders, mud, and other debris through some neighborhoods.
The Montecito Fire Department, the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, the Montecito Association and other organizations have announced plans for a memorial event. It will take place on the 9th at Montecito Union School.
Since the disaster, a number of projects have been created to reduce the potential for future debris flows in the community.
