Business Alerted Authorities to Homeless Camp Months Before Tree Fire

A blazing palm tree along Highway 101 near Milpas Street
caught Santa Barbarans’ attention Thursday at around 5:30 p.m., especially
given the small explosions coming from the fire. In the narrow passage between
the highway and a neighboring business, a homeless camp had caught fire — how
is under investigation — and a palm tree, whose fronds hung down to the ground,
went up in flames after one of the explosions, a witness said.

No one was at the encampment when firefighters arrived from
Station 2, which is nearby on Cacique Street. The engine crew had been
returning to the station when they saw the evening sky alight. Ultimately, five
engines, a ladder truck, and a battalion chief from Santa Barbara City Fire responded
to the fire next to 7 North Nopal Street, which houses Tileco.

Gina Flint had worried about the homeless camp on the other
side of the family-owned business’s warehouse, especially after a customer said
they’d seen children at the camp. “You can see it from the roof of the
warehouse,” she said, “but it’s tucked in back there.” Some of
her employees had tried to get into the space, but turned back. “It’s
frightening,” she said, adding that they’d seen propane tanks and tarps back
there. Tileco’s first shop and warehouse had been on Modoc Road. It was wiped
out in the Painted Cave Fire in 1990, and Flint said she’s been concerned about
fire ever since.