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Santa Barbara, California - Authorities say that late Thursday night, a bushfire triggered by a gust of wind threatened residential and commercial buildings in coastal California.

The fire broke out near Santa Barbara's West Side, about 78 miles northwest of Los Angeles, at about 9 p.m. Fire officials said the fire destroyed 20 acres of bushes and spread quickly.

Mike Eliason, spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said that in an area called TV Hill, at least 50 houses and commercial buildings (including several TV stations) were damaged. threat.

Wind speeds of 10 to 20 miles per hour (16 km to 32 km), and sometimes gusts of up to 50 mph (80 km/h), push flames up hillsides, through bushes, grasses, and palm trees.

"The fire occurred on a very steep slope, so it was driven by terrain and wind," Eliasson said.

However, Eliasson said that when the fire reaches the top of the mountain, fuel may run out, which leads to densely populated residential areas that firefighters are preparing to defend.

There were no reports of injuries, and no direct information about the fire.

KEYT-TV said that the fire broke out below the station newsroom that had been evacuated.

"I was watching TV, and suddenly ashes were flying in the air," Steve Behring, who lives in the area, told the radio station.

He said that a "very, very strong wind" blew the flames behind his house and in the direction of neighbors, but the firefighters were fighting the fire.