On a postcard-perfect afternoon, the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company would normally be bustling with lunchtime diners downing fried calamari and lobster tacos, especially on the cusp of a holiday weekend. Santa Barbara is a tourist magnet, attracting visitors to its famous beaches and trendy restaurants. He said some 12,000 daily commuters drive into Santa Barbara from the south, a route now blocked. January is not high tourism season in Santa Barbara, but now-closed seaside hotels typically lure crowds throughout the year. Ken Oplinger, who heads the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce, said the combination of the wildfire and the mudslide could doom some smaller businesses.

Source: ABC News January 13, 2018 00:30 UTC