2,000 Homes Threatened By CA Wildfire

      SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - Overnight helicopter water drops
and calmer winds are helping crews hold back a wildfire burning
above Santa Barbara, California.
      The 400-acre fire north of the city is threatening some 2,000
homes and has forced the evacuation of about 1,200.
      But county fire officials say things are “looking really good”
after a relatively windless night.
      Still, forecasters warn that the winds could pick up again later
today. The National Weather Service is forecasting wind gusts of up
to 40 miles an hour.l
      Fire officials say 14 teams battled the blaze last night,
including 70 engines and three helicopters. The aircraft are
normally grounded after dark, but continued dropping water for much
of the night and are doing so again this morning.