Storm threat leads to evacuations in Montecito

MONTECITO, Calif. – The Montecito Inn locked it's doors and left a sign on the window on Wednesday night notifying people with reservations it was under an evacuation order caused by the incoming storm.

The Inn was damaged in the Montecito Mudslide on January 9, 2018 and is home to a memorial for 23 people who lost their lives in the tragedy that followed the Thomas Fire.

Others evacuating nearby said they can't help but think about what happened five years ago.

They are not taking any chances.

Once again Marco Farrell evacuated his parents and put dozens of sandbags in place along Olive Mill Road.

Farrell's family friend Kelly Rensdell helped. She said the anniversary can be stressful.

Many residents spent the day filling free sandbags at Manning Park.

Montecito Fire made sure there was enough sand and bags for everyone.

Montecito Water District Water Conservation Coordinator Mike Clark stopped by to pick up sandbags, too.

He said a lot of the vegetation has grown back since the Thomas Fire that led to the debris flow.

He also said the flow widened the pathways for water.

But there are still homes by creeks that have seen a lot of rain in the past few weeks and they are in the at risk areas.

Officials are concerned about those parcels.

Sheriff Bill Brown announced evacuation orders in the early afternoon for those areas as well as the more recent Alisal Fire burn scar and the Cave fire burn scar.

Heavy rain and strong winds began around 10 p.m.

Locals are in for a long night.