Refugees given holiday homes

CARPINTERIA, Calif. — Santa has arrived early for some victims of the destructive Montecito wildfire, which incinerated 210 homes during a wind-driven run across 1,900 acres.

Developer Nick Narang has been giving wildfire refugees temporary stays in six condos in his just-built Lavender Court complex in Carpinteria. He’s furnished the empty units and stocked refrigerators and cupboards with food.

Narang says he simply wants to help them through the holidays.

His www.craigslist.com listing read, in part, “The offering of a rental at no charge ... for the unimaginable losses taking place right now in our community.”

Narang gave one of the condos to Westmont College seniors Jon Schoff and Ian Cook, who lost the house they shared with five other roommates. Cook says it’s a “real blessing.”