Village Beat by Kelly Mahan Herrick
Kelly has been editor at large for the Journal since 2007, reporting on news in Montecito and beyond. She is also a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and is a member of Montecito and Santa Barbara’s top real estate team, Calcagno & Hamilton.
Fighting the Thomas Fire
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14 State Street | 962-0049 | Holiday Hours Mon - Sat 10 - 8, Sun 10 - 6 Christmas Eve 10 - 4 © Photos courtesy of Yeti, Burton, Roxy (top) Patagonia/Ogle (bottom) mountainairsports.com
2835 Gibraltar Rd
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tunning home where peace and quiet prevail. Gated, private, 18 acres with expansive city, ocean and island views. Custom 4/4 home with wine cellar, finished attic, pool, spa, sauna, cabana, 1/1 guesthouse, 3-car garage w. office and bath. 16’ x 1500’ concrete driveway, mature landscaping, 30,000 gal. in-ground concrete water storage, private water wells. Helicopter pad possible. MLS # 17-1585 Price: $3,498,000.00.
2690 Gibraltar Rd
Fire chief Chip Hickman updating maps at Fire Station 1, following a night of fire progression earlier this week
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t 10 am on Tuesday, December 12, dozens of Montecito firefighters and personnel gathered at Fire Station 1 for a morning briefing on the Thomas Fire, which, as of press time, had burned 234,200 acres and was 20 percent contained. For more than a week, MFPD has been operating in an “all-hands-on-deck” mode, meaning 24-hour shifts for the firefighters, who are asked to spend the majority of their 24 hours off at the fire station to stay informed and engaged. “I cannot thank you enough for your commitment to this District and your commitment to the Montecito community,” Montecito Fire chief Chip Hickman told his crew at the end of the briefing.
The previous evening of December 11, the blaze continued to ignite the backcountry of Montecito, making headway in the Romero Drainage and causing several spot fires that could be seen from lower areas of Montecito. “It was nothing unexpected,” Chief Hickman told us. “The fuel bed is ripe for ignition, and thankfully the weather is cooperating,” he said. Until Tuesday, the fire had not technically entered MFPD boundaries; around 11:30 that morning, the fire jumped a ridgeline and threatened homes on on Bella Vista Drive, bringing it officially into the District. As of press time, the fire is the fifth-largest fire in California history, and it is on pace to become the largest. “It would not surprise me
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ost spectacular view property in Santa Barbara Co. with views from Pt. Concepcion to Pt. Mugu. Gated, private, 22 acres, zoned 40 acre AG, esp. important for cannabis growers with permits. Room for green houses. Building plans available for 4500 s.f. 4/4 home with 4-car garage on 3/4 acre site, all amenities in, just pull permits. 16’ x 1500’ concrete driveway. Existing 3/2 guesthouse w. 3-car garage. 300 Hass avocado trees. Private water wells. 11 min. to Milpas/101. MLS # 17-1447 Price: $2,998,000.00
Both properties can be bought together for anyone looking for an extended family compound for $6.5 M.
Both Properties Open Sun., Dec. 17, 1 - 3pm
HELEN LARSEN REALTY Helen Larsen, Broker
Home/Office 805-964-1891 | Cell: 208-755-2616 www.HelenL@helenlarsenrealty.com CA. License # 00893031
12 MONTECITO JOURNAL
Montecito firefighters and personnel are briefed with the latest on the Thomas Fire
• The Voice of the Village •
14 – 21 December 2017