A candlelight ceremony is planned to commemorate the anniversary of a tragedy which killed 23 people, injured dozens more, and displaced hundreds of Santa Barbara County residents. Thursday marks the second anniversary of the deadly Montecito debris flow.
It was an unprecedented disaster for the region. In 2017, the massive Thomas wildfire stripped vegetation from hundreds of thousands of acres of mountains and hillsides in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The fire wasn’t even out when heavy rain created the torrent of water, mud, and boulders which swept through Montecito.
But, the community has been making a comeback, something which is being celebrated Thursday night. Sharon Byrne, the Executive Director of the Montecito Association, says the event is called “Raising Our Light.”
The ceremony will take place at Westmont College Thursday night, beginning at 6:30. With thousands of people expected, people can take special shuttles from the Santa Barbara Zoo parking lot at 5:30 p.m. There will also be shuttles running from Cold Spring School, and Montecito Covenant Church.
