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Authorities say Santa Barbara wildfire caused accidentally by group that built bonfire

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A bonfire built by a group of young adults is what sparked a massive wildfire in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said today ten people had gathered at the tea garden where the fire originated. About 13 hours after they’d left, the fire broke out. The group believed the fire had been put out before they left.

An anonymous tip led to the discovery.

The fire was the first of three blazes to erupt in Southern California in the last week.

More than two dozen people were injured in the fire, including a Montecito couple who remained in critical condition today at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center.

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The blaze consumed nearly 2,000 acres and destroyed 210 homes.

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