Loma Fire: TV Hill Arson and Recovery

Acreage: ~9 acres
Ignition: May 20, 2021, approx. 8:55 PM (Arson)
Containment: May 24, 2021
Structures Destroyed: 0 destroyed, 2 damaged
Injuries/Fatalities: None reported
Lead Agency: Santa Barbara City Fire Department

Igniting on the windy evening of May 20, 2021, the Loma Fire ascended "TV Hill" in Santa Barbara, threatening critical broadcast infrastructure and residential neighborhoods. The arson-caused blaze burned approximately 9 acres and damaged two homes, famously forcing the evacuation of the KEYT newsroom while journalists were broadcasting live. Post-fire recovery involved extensive slope stabilization along Loma Alta Drive to prevent debris flows, a project deemed complete by city officials in 2024.

The fire began just before 9:00 p.m. in steep vegetation between Loma Alta Drive and Miramonte Drive. Driven by gusty winds and feeding on heavy brush, the flames moved rapidly uphill toward telecommunications towers and homes. Investigators identified the cause as arson; Victor Angel Hernandez was arrested near the scene and later sentenced to eight years in prison for starting the blaze and several other spot fires in the area.

Emergency response was swift due to the fire's location in the heart of the city's Wildland-Urban Interface. Santa Barbara City Fire, assisted by County and Cal Fire crews, deployed aggressive structural defense tactics. The threat necessitated the immediate evacuation of the KEYT-TV studios and surrounding residential streets. Although two homes sustained damage, firefighters successfully stopped forward progress early the next morning, preventing structure loss and protecting the region's primary broadcast hub.

In the years following containment, the City of Santa Barbara Public Works Department executed a long-term mitigation strategy. This included the installation of concrete barriers (K-rails) and the seasonal closure of Loma Alta Drive to manage soil instability. In October 2024, officials announced that vegetation had sufficiently recovered to stabilize the hillside, marking the formal conclusion of the incident's recovery phase.