A wind-whipped fire in Southern California has inflicted significant damage to Westmont College, a Christian liberal arts college in Santa Barbara. No one has been reported injured at the college. Flames chewed through a eucalyptus grove on the 135-acre campus and destroyed several buildings housing the physics and psychology departments, a residence hall and at least one faculty home. Hundreds of students fled to gym, where they spent the night sleeping on the floor. Some stood in groups praying, others sobbed openly and comforted each other.
To read The Associated Press article, click here.
FOLLOWUP: The fast-moving fire destroyed 14 of the school's 41 faculty homes, four student residences, the historic carriage house that functioned as the school's psychology building, the physics building, an old math building and two Quonset huts used by the art department. Classes won't be in session at Westmont until at least Wednesday.
To read The Ventura County Star article, click here.
