Most Santa Barbara Wildfire Evacuees Allowed To Return Home

May 9, 2009 5:59 p.m. EST

Santa Barbara, CA (AHN) - The Santa Barbara Sheriff lifted most mandatory evacuations Saturday, allowing most of the 30,000 residents to return home who fled raging wildfires responsible for the destruction of 80 homes and almost 9,000 acres of land.

Sheriff Bill Brown said at a press conference Saturday that 30 percent of the fires are under control and that firefighters were aided by thick, wet fog that rolled into the area this weekend.

Authorities still have not identified the cause of the fires.

More than 3,500 people are still at risk from the fires, and fire officials are warning that favorable weather conditions may not last.

About 4,000 firefighters have been battling the blaze this week, along with several aircraft equipped to battle wildfires.