Hundreds of trapped birds freed from chimney in Montecito

MONTECITO, Calif. -- Hundreds of trapped birds were freed from a chimney in Montecito Monday afternoon.

The report came in Sunday at around 8 p.m. The Montecito Fire Department responded to the 100 block of Hermosillo Road to reports of birds or bats trapped in the home's chimney.

Upon arrival, firefighters and County Animal Services said they found about 1,000 small birds attempting to escape the chimney but were blocked by the gate covering the fireplace.

Both fire and animal service officials hoped the birds would fly out on their own overnight and decided to wait on further measures.

On Monday morning, Montecito Fire and County Animal Services returned to the home to check on the birds and found that they were still trapped at the base of the fireplace.

Animal service workers designed a chute system to funnel the birds out of the fireplace and release them through the home's back doors.

The birds were released outside.

There were no reports of injuries.

According to County Animals Services, the birds are known as "swifts."