Fire in Funk Zone

Big black plumes of smoke can be seen in the skies over the Santa Barbara waterfront this morning, as a fast-burning fire is consuming the building at 122 Santa Barbara Street. The tenant is Vasari Plaster and Stucco, according to Indy reporter Chris Meagher, who is on the scene. Their Web site is here.

He reports that the building is “very much on fire,” that the roof has caved in, and that the large number of firefighters are currently shooting water into the building’s office. According to the City of Santa Barbara Firefighters’ Facebook page here, this is being called a “defensive fire,” meaning that the firefighters are working to protect the buildings next to the property as the conflagration is too dangerous to enter. There are also reports of a wounded dog from the fire, though that is yet to be confirmed.

Stay tuned for more reports from the scene.

UPDATE @ 11:15 a.m.: According to Santa Barbara City Fire’s Pat McElroy, the fire at Vasari Plaster and Stucco at 122 Santa Barbara Street was first reported at 10:33 a.m. One person was injured and taken to Cottage Hospital. A dog was also injured and taken to the veterinarian. There is no more info at this time on either victim.

McElroy said that the structure is a Quonset hut-like building, which is simple construction and burns pretty easily. Because the fire was too dangerous to enter, the goal was to protect the two structures immediately next to the building, as they were only separated by a walkway of space.

The investigators are already on the scene and expect to have more information about the blaze later today.