"GOLETA, Calif. — Fueled by hot and dry weather, wildfires threatened homes in California and other Western states as crews struggled to corral flames that have scorched miles of brush and timber.

About 140 homes and ranches were considered at risk in California, where a 1,400-acre fire was tearing through coastal canyons west of Santa Barbara, scorching an area that hadn't burned in 60 years.

The chaparral was 'very dry, very dead-on-the-ground fuel for the fire,' said Gina DePinto, communications manager for Santa Barbara County."

Nick Ut and Christopher Weber reports for the Associated Press June 17, 2016. [2]