Reggae band Iration are among several artists that are coming together to support victims of
and workers involved in the rescue and containment effort for the recent Montecito "Tea Fire."
According to the most recent count, 210 homes were destroyed in the Montecito Tea Fire, the first blaze of the three Los Angeles wildfires that eventually enveloped all of the greater LA area in smoke, fire or a combination of both at their height on November 14th and 15th.
In response to the drastic property loss incurred (estimated at $280 million, according to the property insurance publication Insurance Journal), a series of benefit concerts are being organized, one of them already having taken place at downtown Santa Barbara club Stateside Restaurant & Lounge. At the end of the series of concerts, reggae, classical, blues and r&b talents will have done their part to help get eastern Santa Barbara and Montecito families back into their homes, as well as help victims, firefighters and law enforcement pay for emergency healthcare and operation costs, and to offer general support and gratitude for those who helped rescue individuals threatened by the fire and partook in the effort to contain the blaze.
Despite the attention paid in the national media to the fact that many celebrity's homes were at times surrounded by the Tea Fire, including the mansions of Robe Lowe and Christopher Lloyd, whose home was partially damaged by the fire. However, the median income in Montecito is a little more than $150,000. While high, that indicates that not everybody is able to quickly snap up million-dollar contracts or draw on large bank accounts to cover costs, after insurance, to get themselves back inside houses in the already depressed California market, as can celebrities like Lloyd.
Thus, with the very uncertain financial and health conditions of Montecito residents in mind, a series of concerts have been set up to help raise money for financial services to cover costs stemming from the fire.
After the first concert at Stateside, which featured Iration, one of the hit bands of SB's burgeoning reggae scene, was put on by the same production team that started the County's new West Beach Music Festival, this past Thursday. Proceeds from the concert--the totals of which have not been tabulated--will be channeled into financial aid Santa Barbara firefighters and burn victims. Thanks to firms such as Santa Barbara Bank & Trust and Rabobank, more than $7,500 in gifts were put up for auction, according to local weekly newspaper The Santa Barbara Independent.
Tomorrow night, the Santa Barbara Symphony will hold a "Thank You Firefighters" concert, which will be open to the public though dedicated to members of local firefighting and police agencies, taking place at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara. While the concert is free, audience members will have the opportunity to donate to the United Fire Relief Effort, which will have representatives on hand in the Granada's lobby. More information about the event can be found by calling (805) 898-9626.
Finally, also tomorrow the Santa Barbara Blues Society with Katz Promotions has helped organize "The Statemynt Tea Party," an event hosted by namesake venue Statemynt, yet another music spot stationed on Santa Barbara's famous State Street (somewhat the Western equivalent of Memphis's Beale Street). The main act will be regional outfit Orlando Napier and the Cats and Dogs, with songs played by the turntables of a local DJ, Matty Matt Morris, until midnight or later. A requested $5 donation at the door, prices of raffle tickets for prizes donated by local businesses, all tips and 10% of bar sales will be given to victimes of property loss. Potential attendees can call (805) 448-8234 for more information about the concert.
No benefits for victims of or government workers involved in the rescue and containment efforts for either the Northern Los Angeles County or Orange County-area wildfires (referred to in most reports as the "Sayre" and "Triangle Complex" fires, respectively), have yet been organized.
