For constant updates on fires in Santa Barbara County For constant updates on fires in San Luis Obispo County check out CAL FIRE SLO’s social media: Calif.- A fire broke out at an abandoned three-story building at the intersection of Molle Way and First Street in Solvang Friday Fire crews were dispatched around 5:30 a.m and arrived to find the building fully involved shared the Santa Barbara County Fire Department from the scene Crews worked to ensure the flames did not reach nearby structures and evacuated people in the area before the fire was successfully knocked down at 7:19 a.m detailed the Santa Barbara County Fire Department Streets were closed in a one-block radius during the response and while people were able to reenter nearby buildings the streets around the incident are expected to remain closed for overhaul using heavy equipment explained the Santa Barbara County Fire Department The image below shows the building still smoldering later Friday morning According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department the exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation Andrew is a Digital Content Producer and Assignment Desk Assistant for News Channel 3-12. For more about Andrew, click here. News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service Privacy Policy Community Guidelines FCC Public File EEO Public File Report FCC Applications Do Not Sell My Personal Information Six units and a strike team are on the scene in Solvang after an abandoned building caught fire early Friday morning firefighters were called to a three-story abandoned building in the area of Molle Way and First Street #MollyInc. Photo Update: PIO responding. pic.twitter.com/kGbLJS0Ckz The incident has since been upgraded to a third alarm as containment efforts are underway We will continue to share updates as they become available USA Today recently named two California cities the Best Small Towns in the West, including the No Solvang the Denmark-themed town in the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country was awarded first place in the publication's annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards In the Sonoma Valley, another wine-lovers destination, Healdsburg Here's what to know about USA TODAY's 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards survey USA TODAY described the town as ideal for families To that end, Solvang came in at No. 5 in a different category, Best Small Town Food Scene town that makes you feel like you've been transported to a totally different country — Solvang is just that and even the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art," USA TODAY wrote Why was Healdsburg listed as the third-best small town in the West by USA TODAY?USA TODAY described Healdsburg and those seeking small-town boutique shopping "With award-winning wineries, farm-to-table dining, and a walkable town square filled with tasting rooms and boutiques, it is a picturesque retreat," USA TODAY wrote. "Outdoor enthusiasts can bike through vineyards or enjoy the Russian River's recreational offerings making Healdsburg the perfect destination for both relaxation and exploration." In previous years, Healdsburg was recognized as having one of the best small town food scenes in the nation by USA TODAY How was the list put together?The 10 small towns — each with a population of fewer than 25,000 — were selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the region for their diverse offerings For a complete rundown of the best small town in the West, visit here Official Social Media Accounts To Our Stakeholders Marubeni Management Philosophy Vision for the Marubeni of the Future Company Profile Directors, Audit & Supervisory Board Members, and Executive Officers Mid-Term Management Strategy Organization Japan and Overseas Offices Corporate Governance Major Group Companies Our History Marubeni Collection Lifestyle Division Food & Agri Business Division Metals and Mineral Resources Division Energy & Chemicals Division Power & Infrastructure Services Division Finance, Leasing & Real Estate Business Division Aerospace & Mobility Division IT Solutions Division Next Generation Business Development Division Next Generation Corporate Development Division Pursue Digital Transformation with Marubeni Marubeni Group by the Numbers Management Policy Earnings Releases & Financial Information Stock Information Sustainability Website The Marubeni Group's Social Contribution Activities Advertisements and Videos Advertisements Marubeni Institute Company Profile Print Marubeni has entered into a partnership agreement with Solvang ASA (hereinafter and commenced joint operation of an ammonia carrier “MV Clipper Neptun” Overview and Distinguishing FeaturesSolvang is a leading player in ammonia seaborne transportation with a 10% share in the global volume of shipments and extensive knowledge and experience in the field Marubeni formulated its long-term climate change vision in March 2021 and has positioned its green strategy as one of the basic policies for enhancing corporate value in its Mid-Term Management Strategy As a pioneer in establishing a low-carbon ammonia supply chain from development and manufacturing to sales Marubeni has been contributing to Japan’s energy security and developing businesses to decarbonize the country With Marubeni’s participation in the field of transportation of ammonia a clean energy source for which demand is expected to grow we will contribute to the stable supply of ammonia around the world BackgroundThe Japanese government anticipates that domestic demand for low-carbon fuel ammonia will reach three million tons in 2030 and 30 million tons in 2050 and has set a goal of establishing a domestic and overseas supply chain through Japanese companies of 100 million tons of ammonia by 2050 with the volume of ammonia seaborne transportation set to increase in the near future Marubeni will deepen its knowledge of ammonia transportation and contribute to the establishment of a global low-carbon fuel ammonia value chain and global climate change mitigation measures in the medium to long term Back And the 2025 award for "Best Small Town in the West" goes to Solvang A USA Today panel compiled a list of the 10 best small towns in the region and asked its readers to rank them all “The Danish Capital of America” came out on top USA Today’s 10 Best also awarded Solvang the No saying “Solvang is one of California's most unique towns and legendary wines from the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley.” Pismo Beach came out on top for the "Best Small Coastal Town in the US." The California Nature Art Museum in Solvang is currently housing a sculpture of a huge troll Danish artist Thomas Dambo is visiting from abroad with his team to complete the piece "I always hope that when people come and see my work that they will understand like how many big and amazing things that we can build from our trash," Dambo said it's made from old wine barrels and from pallets and from construction timber that came from the local landfill and then some dunnage wood from the local hardware store and all of that together has become this sculpture." Dambo has made more than 150 trolls and they can be found around the world in 17 countries His troll in Solvang is slated to go on display this Sunday Firefighters worked to put out a fire that broke out at a Solvang restaurant Monday night The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reports the call came in at 8:24 p.m for the fire at Solvang Brewing Company on the 1500 block of Mission Drive Fire officials say they searched the building but did not find anyone inside According to hours listed on the restaurant’s website the business is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays Flames were knocked down after about 50 minutes and were reportedly contained to a portion of the attic and outside of the building The cause of the fire is under investigation Calls to the restaurant did not go through Tuesday morning The Solvang Brewing Company restaurant on 1500 block of Mission Drive is temporarily closed after a fire in the back part of the building caught fire gutting the kitchen and causing minimal smoke damage in the bar/dining room area According to Santa Barbara County Fire PIO Scott Safechuck county firefighters responded to a 1st alarm structure fire at the business at 8:24 p.m Crews were able to get the fire knocked down by 9:16 Solvang Brewing Company owner Steve Renfro said a couple days later that the fire was caused by a bag of cleaning rags that spontaneously combusted while sitting behind the business “We had close early that night because it was slow,” Renfro said “We cleaned up and left about 6:15 p.m I got a call about 8:20 telling me the building was on fire Later we looked at security footage and saw the rags catch fire.” Renfro said that while the kitchen was heavily damaged and would have to be redone there are no issues at the front of the building and smoke damage in the dining room was “minimal.” who has been cooperating with city officials on recovery is planning to get the business open “on some level” as soon as possible “We can’t use the kitchen for a while but we’ll still be able to serve drinks and I’m looking into leasing a food trailer so we can serve food to our customers,” he said “This is devastating to all involved,” Renfro continued “I just want to get operating on some level because we have a lot of good employees who we need to get back to work so they can pay their bills I’m just trying to stay positive.” Solvang Brewing Company also has a location in Lompoc Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress A woman was airlifted to the hospital after crashing into a building in Solvang on Friday the vehicle was traveling between 35-40 mph when the driver crashed through a fence and into the building Fire officials say the woman suffered major injuries Her teenage passenger was reportedly uninjured but taken to the hospital by ambulance The building sustained some exterior damage Calif.- A large fire broke out Thursday night at a vacant restaurant that used to be the site of Sear Steakhouse on Fourth Place near Copenhagen Drive.The second-alarm fire was first reported at approximately 8:03 p.m Video on social media shows a large plume of smoke and flames that could be seen blocks away Firefighters were able to knock the fire down by 8:20 p.m and prevented flames from spreading to adjacent buildings according to public information officer Karen Cruz-Orduña of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.People in the nearby Osteria Grappolo restaurant were evacuated while firefighters got the blaze under control Crews are expected to remain on scene for a few hours for mop up and overhaul No one was injured in the fire and the cause is under investigation Solvang will soon have its own "troll" installed at the California Nature Art Museum Renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo has been commissioned to create what the museum calls in a press release "its most ambitious project to date": the first permanent giant troll in California Museum officials say Dambo is known for using recycled materials to create large adding in a press release that the commissioned project "will quickly become a major visitor attraction in the Santa Ynez Valley and beyond." California Nature Art Museum Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate told KSBY that organizers hope the art piece will be a staple of the Central Coast "I think it's going to be such an amazing tourist attraction for our whole community People travel all over the world to go find his trolls He creates troll maps so people can find them and I think it's just going to be a real boon to our whole community," Otte-Demangate said The museum has reportedly raised $120,000 to build the troll and still needs another $180,000 to complete the campaign Officials say they are also looking for dozens of old pallets and barrels to assist in the troll's construction The California Nature Art Museum has more information about the upcoming project on its website Known as the "Danish Capital of America," Solvang's cuisine and architecture have turned it into a popular tourist destination And while the temperature in December rarely dips below 70 degrees in central California, Solvang has continued to earn spots on lists like "The Most Magical Christmas Towns in the US." With Christmas just around the corner, I decided to plan a weekend in Solvang — and was transported to Europe Founded in 1911 by three Danish immigrants, Solvang was christened with the Danish word for "sunny field" (very appropriate for the Golden State) and attracted Danish settlers from the US and abroad, according to Elverhøj Denmark has long been a leading force in wind power and renewable energy, and at one point there were thousands of windmills scattered across the country Solvang pays tribute to that history with its own windmills You'll find four within four blocks of each other and they make for popular photo opportunities for tourists while another makes a picturesque backdrop for the town's brewery Solvang is all about "hygge," which is not so much a Danish word as it is a national mood Hygge is about embracing coziness and warmth like a cup of hot chocolate with your family or cuddling on the couch while watching "The Holiday." Walking around Solvang at night and seeing its windmills light up the little town I couldn't help but think of that word and feel its spirit — even in my sundress and flip-flops The charming inns and small boutique hotels are named after the likes of Hamlet and King Frederik or Danish towns like Copenhagen Everything from the restaurants and shops to the public restrooms and bus stops has Denmark's distinct bindingsvaerk architecture making you feel like you're in a different era — or at least outside of the US though I did spot a Subway and Domino's with very subtle signage who came along on my trip after Thanksgiving We made it our mission to find all the imitations of famous Danish landmarks recreated in Solvang which pays tribute to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name a re-creation of the 17th-century tower that still stands in Copenhagen done in the style of a 1915 Danish streetcar And a number of buildings featured wooden storks — a symbol of happiness — on their rooftops I have yet to visit Denmark, so I loved spending the weekend trying the Danish food in Solvang I decided to have lunch at Solvang Restaurant where my family tried the ham and Tilsit cheese sandwich and ate the Flaeskesteg (roast pork stuffed with prunes) and Frikadeller (pan-fried Danish pork meatballs) — two words I'd never heard of before this trip — along with the Wienerschnitzel Our plates often came packed with red cabbage and potatoes and were always loaded with gravy The food at Bit O'Denmark was especially delicious and the gravy was so good I want it at every Thanksgiving dinner Five authentic Danish bakeries are within five blocks of each other making it extremely easy (and tempting) to indulge in the many incredible pastries on offer The Kringle Slice was so perfectly flaky that it instantly melted on my tongue while the Princess Mocha had a crunchy and sweet stroopwafel base with a deliciously light mocha cream stuffed inside fluffy Danish desserts often topped with raspberry jam and powdered sugar They're a lot like doughnut holes but better Solvang Restaurant is well-known for its version of aebleskivers and there's almost always a line of people waiting to grab some from its to-go window According to the bakery's website, members of the Kardashian clan are regulars and Kris have all posted their gingerbread houses on social media Solvang Bakery sells customized gingerbread houses along with those you can decorate yourself You can also buy individual gingerbread men (I tried one traditional Danishes in a variety of flavors The only thing there might be more of in Solvang than pastries are the hundreds of stockings and Nutcrackers you can find for sale throughout the year It seemed like every other window I walked by had a display of smiling Santas every shop blasted either the "Frozen" soundtrack or Christmas carols Walking into Jule Hus — which has been open for more than 50 years and celebrates Christmas every day — felt magical with over a dozen Christmas trees The store was full of people happily debating which ornaments to buy for themselves or their loved ones "We're always in the spirit here," I heard one of the store's employees tell a customer Santa's Village is held in the town's main park every Saturday in December and there are holiday food tours every weekend there were already Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the town the town sparkled with fairy lights strung through the trees and across storefronts The "Nisse Adventure" is part of Julefest and is another feature of Solvang that gives the town some of that European Christmas magic (and lets you win special prizes) I couldn't help but yelp with excitement when I spotted the nisse relaxing on this tree in the backyard of the Elverhøj museum I loved how much Solvang is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen Just look at this entrance to the park bearing his name There are also references to his fairy tales throughout town from the Little Mermaid statue to beautiful murals of "The Princess and the Pea" and "Thumbelina" on the walls of Solvang Restaurant which was mentioned in numerous travel blogs I read about Solvang The boutique hotel — which has only 12 guest rooms — felt like an intimate bed and breakfast each room is decorated with a distinctive decor and ambiance Mine had lovely blue-and-white printed wallpaper that made the room feel light despite being on the first floor Paula's Pancake House seemed to be the most popular restaurant in Solvang as there was always a huge crowd waiting to try the restaurant's famous Danish pancakes As an enormous pancake was set before me in the old-school diner-style restaurant My pancakes — topped with fresh strawberries and even fresher whipped cream — were thin and crispy Each bite immediately transported me back to a breakfast I'd had over 10 years ago in Amsterdam So much about Solvang reminded me of trips to Europe and I have no doubt it's one of the most Christmas-loving places you'll find in the US The affordable shops and free holiday activities are perfect for families while the delicious food and 15 different wine-tasting rooms could definitely keep you occupied on a weekend away with friends Several wildfires are burning in Southern California Thousands of homes were destroyed by the flames and more than 150,000 people have evacuated KSBY News spoke to people from Los Angeles County who chose to evacuate in the Santa Ynez Valley as the devastation from the wildfires continues to impact thousands of lives “We just needed to get out before we got any evacuation warnings,” said Amy Amy told KSBY News she decided to quickly pack her bags to escape the wildfires surrounding her community in Los Angeles County The Palisades Fire and Kenneth Fire are not too far from where she lives She told me it was taking a toll on her and her husband’s health “We're getting a lot of smoke in our apartment and we're on the top floor,” said Amy My husband's dealing with a health issue as well so it's just impacting the way he was handling the day.” While thousands of people have been displaced from the wildfires Amy tells us she has family and friends who have lost everything “Driving through the thick of it—just like really hits you differently,” said Amy It's really depressing to see that and to know how many I have lots of friends that lost homes and family members that lost homes and hearing their stories has been heartbreaking.” is staying in Solvang with his family and says wildfires in California are quite common “We see this almost every year,” said Decker But this time it was in areas that are bad I saw the Getty Center as the fires raging towards the Getty Center Just thinking of all that art that would get destroyed All the homes that were in Palisades that were just obliterated.” says he chose to get away from the area due to the conditions Christmas is over now it’s time to throw away the trees — or burn them Friday night was the 33rd annual Christmas Tree Burn in Solvang Hundreds of community members all threw their Christmas trees into a pile to be burned by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department It’s one of the largest fire safety demonstrations along the Central Coast as hundreds looked on in a tradition that brings the holiday to a close "Like 15 seconds!" Henry Sweeney and Mason Elliott said in unison That's how long they lasted up at the front of the crowd for the Christmas tree burning along with hundreds of other locals and tourists gathered around a large pile of Christmas trees and it was just a way to get rid of our tree and make it easy," said Marco Gomez "As you can see we got a few accumulated already The pile of trees was lit just before 6 p.m fire officials demonstrated some fire safety tips for the crowd "We want to show the importance of fire safety in and around your home," said Cpt Time Gailey with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department "Make sure that you get the tree out of the house if it's still in the house before it gets too dry," said Gailey Event organizers anticipated around 1,500 people to attend the event and then obviously we want to show people how to be safe with their Christmas tree," said Jenny McClurg Gailey says that if you don't have a tree-burning ceremony like this near you there are other alternatives to getting rid of your Christmas tree "We encourage families to just use the green waste bin," said Gailey "Or if they have the ability to mulch the tree they can also use a mulcher and use that as ground cover." Authorities are investigating after a structure fire in central Solvang prompted a nearby evacuation Thursday evening Santa Barbara County Fire officials say they were called to 4th Place and Copenhagen Drive at 8:04 p.m firefighters were reportedly met with smoke and fire coming from the vacant building that used to be Sear Steakhouse Cause is under investigation. CT. 8:04 p.m. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/iO3aXd9cbG Although officials say the fire did not extend to adjacent buildings patrons and staff in the nearby Italian restaurant Osteria Grappolo were evacuated The cause of the blaze is reportedly under investigation Three candidates are vying for the mayoral seat in Solvang – Jamie Baker results show that Brown is in the lead with 60.71% of voters in his favor Baker is the current runner-up with 25.41% of votes; 13.49% of voters are in favor of El Amin so far County representatives report that 0.39% of ballots had a write-in candidate Nearly half of the total ballots have been counted Baker said his priorities as mayor would be water maintaining city revenue to avoid raising taxes and revitalizing the city’s arts and culture scene he would seek to improve traffic flow through downtown and renegotiate city contracts El Amin did not respond to KSBY's requests for an interview Click here for more election results. especially if you’re the type who loves the New Orleans-themed parts of Disneyland or the aesthetic stylings of beat-up mini golf courses But it has been a long time since anyone would call it trendy; the Danish royal family hasn’t even visited since 2011 Here are all of the best things to do in the revitalized Solvang the dozens of ostriches and emus are pretty gross and they’re so weird looking and huge and used to being fed by gawping humans—when else will you get this damn close to one We all get to be rubes and marks every once in a while The gorgeous oak woodland park spans 85 acres with plenty of picnic tables and places to toss a blanket It's a quick mile-long trail that hops back and forth across a lovely creek before it runs into the 80-foot waterfall a mossy cascade of clear water down jagged rock Pork Chop Schnitzel at Peasants Feast | Photo by Ben Mesirow for ThrillistEat, drink, and sleep: Where to eat in SolvangAny discussion of Solvang’s new guard has to start with Peasants Feast The married couple ownership duo of chef Michael Cherney and general manager Sarah Cherney opened their dream restaurant at perhaps the worst possible time in recent history and a visit to Peasants Feast immediately clarifies how they did—the food is spectacular and a rotating specials board using fresh ingredients They lean on interesting riffs on classics like Pastrami Smoked Salmon or Solvang Hot Chicken and if you happen to catch a sandwich or taco made with local fish which more than lives up to the lofty standard set by their lunch menu but early highlights include mainstays like a Pork Chop Schnitzel and an unorthodox and delicious Sunflower Seed Risotto But Peasant’s Feast isn’t the only excellent restaurant in town. Another pandemic opening has been pushing the scene forward: the modern Central Coast-style steakhouse Coast Range Anything from their excellent grill is worth a try and all of the steakhouse classics are well-executed but don’t overlook their more adventurous and often rotating sides and appetizers The Fritto Misto comes with Thai Chili Sauce and Furikake Aioli the Creamed Corn comes with Jalapeño and Cotija and the Ahi Tuna Crudo gets a hit of habanero mixed in with Yuzu Kosho with a cocktail list divided into sections of takes on classics like Negronis Photo by Ben Mesirow for ThrillistWhere to drink in SolvangIf you want to enjoy Coast Range’s food in an even more casual setting, Draughtsmen Aleworks is just next door and has a special bar menu from the neighboring restaurant or a Brat Dog with housemade sauerkraut to go with Draughtsmen’s very solid beer The brews run the stylistic gamut from a Rice Lager to an Imperial Russian Stout but they lean on the lighter side of the alcohol by volume spectrum a finer touch well suited to a long evening hanging out and playing games on their stylish and expansive patio Morning drinkers have choices too—Good Seed Coffee Boutique opened a few years ago with an outstanding espresso drink program featuring their own beans They also have a selection of organic baked goods and a particularly excellent selection of long-fermented heritage-grain sourdough bread which they serve as toast or as whole loaves available for pre-order It sounds a little bit like hipster mad libs many of which are available for rent through your app of choice and the area is also awash with adequate hotels and motels most of which carry the standard Danish facade over totally average and mostly acceptable interiors But in its class, The Landsby is a rare standout. They’ve taken the Scandinavian thought but pushed it toward minimalist modern design, with blonde wood and white walls, dark accents, and a big outdoor courtyard. Mad & Vin and the lobby bar stays open until 11 pm on weekends—one of the later last calls in the sleepy town the for-purchase bottle of wine they cleverly stock in the mini bar is solid and generally reasonably priced And more hotel renovations are underway—in the next couple of years the lodging options could look very different Ventura County’s Mountain wildfire and other Southern California blazes have focused new attention on fire preparedness The City of Solvang is looking at what’s being done and what can be done to prepare the community for disasters The more we think about it ahead of time and take steps to prepare the more we are ready," said Olivia Uribe Mutal who is the City of Solvang’s Public Information Officer "It's really about emergency responders doing the groundwork and then us taking steps as individuals to protect ourselves While the theme of the community meeting is wildfire preparedness the idea is to ready for all kinds of disasters The Town Hall is at 5:30 Tuesday night at Solvang City Hall The city is hoping to get a federal grant to develop a comprehensive disaster plan.