A large wildfire burning near Santa Barbara continues to impact Highway 101, forcing drivers to find new routes. The Alisal Fire has consumed 16,801 acres and is just 5% contained, fire officials said Thursday. More than 1,300 firefighters are working to contain the fire and protect threatened structures.
Aircraft are expected to be up making drops all day, Santa Barbara County officials said in a statement, as only light and mostly onshore winds are expected in the area surrounding the fire.
Ground resources will continue efforts to put in line and defend structures, ahead of the potential for increased fire weather over the next few days.
Highway 101 remains closed from .3 miles north of Goleta, from Winchester Canyon Road to the junction of SR-1 in Las Cruces. For the latest updates from CalTrans, click here.
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The overall strategy in fighting the fire is to minimize its size and eliminate the threat to Highway 101, fire officials said on the incident management page, adding that the main setback early on was heavy winds — which limited safe access for firefighters and limited the use of aircraft support.
A map shared by the SBCFD shows that the fire reaches from the area near El Capital Beach park nearly all the way north to Gaviota, and reaches inland all the way to Camino Del Cielo Road and indicates where evacuation orders and warnings are in effect.
Photo credit Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Evacuation Orders
- Area west of Arroyo Hondo Canyon to the intersection of Highway 101, and Highway 1, including Vista Del Mar School and Gaviota Beach.
-Arroyo Hondo Canyon, Refugio Canyon, and the area between El Capitan Beach State Park and West Camino Cielo.
Everyone in these areas is asked to immediately leave.
Evacuation Warnings
-All properties within the Hollister Ranch area.
-Area east of El Capitan Beach State Park, west of Dos Pueblos Canyon Rd, and south of West Camino Cielo.
- Area east of Calle Mariposa Reina, west of Arroyo Hondo, and south of W Camino Cielo.
Everyone in these areas is asked to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
Assistance For Evacuees
The American Red Cross is supporting evacuees with sheltering needs. The Evacuation Center is in the upper parking lot at Dos Pueblos High School located at 7266 Alameda Avenue in Goleta.
Evacuees needing assistance can contact the American Red Cross at 833-583-3111.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services has been activated to assist with animal evacuations. Animal owners should call 805-681-4332 if assistance is needed to evacuate animals.
Earl Warren Showgrounds has been established as an evacuation center for large animals. County Animal Services, located at 5473 Overpass Road in Goleta, is accepting small animals.
Livestock can be taken to the Earl Warren Showgrounds.
For the latest on the Alisal Fire, monitor Santa Barbara County updates here. For an interactive map of the incident, click here.
Air Quality Updates
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District have issued an Air Quality Watch Alert for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands.
Smoke and ash from the Alisal Fire is affecting air quality, and winds in the forecast are expected to push more smoke onshore. This is a dynamic situation, and local air quality conditions can change quickly, officials said.
To monitor the latest on air quality, visit APCD’s website, or check the EPA Fire and Smoke Map.
To pickup free N95 masks, visit Direct Relief International at their headquarters on 6100 Wallace Becknell Road in Santa Barbara. They are open through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.