Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara

It's happening again, the third time in nine months -— a major wildfire in Santa Barbara -- and for some reason this one seems even more frightening than the last.

Crazy winds are driving the fire, which started yesterday just after noon at the head of the Jesusita Trail (thus its "incident" name) in the foothills. They are blowing hard and erratically. Our heroic firefighters have not yet begun to get a handle on it.

A pall of black smoke hangs low over the city to the east. The sky above my house is a brilliant blue. It's eerie as hell.

Here's a map, for those who know the town.