(TNS) — Around this time of year, wildfires are often influenced by two forces: wind and rain.

Santa Barbara on Monday night got heavy winds, fueling the dangerous Cave fire that threatened numerous homes north of the city.

But nature might also offer firefighters some relief, in the form of a storm moving in Tuesday night.

“What’s working in our favor is we’re getting rain tonight,” Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli said. “It’s definitely going to affect our fire behavior. … It’s going to diminish the fire.”

The storm, which is expected to drop about an inch of precipitation on the fire area, brings its own challenges in the burn area because of possible debris flows it could cause. During an early-morning briefing, fire officials warned crews to be cautious when the rain started and to have a plan in case roadways were washed out.

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