Santa Barbara (Jesusita) Fire update
(Note added May 14, 2009: Local TV news tonight said that this fire is now 90% contained. It had spread to 9000 acres, burned 80 homes, and injured 29 firefighters.)
More than 30,000 people have been evacuated and another 23,000 have been told to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, as the Santa Barabara wildfire raged along a five-mile front. The fire has destroyed at least 75 homes. This morning (Friday), the fire was only 10% contained, and 2500 firefighters were battling the blaze. The fire has burned 3500 acres since it started on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were using 246 engines, 14 air tankers, and 15 helicopters. A DC-10 jumbo jet tanker began fighting the fire this afternoon, dropping huge loads of flame retardant.
(Note added May 10, 2009: Fog, low winds, and cool ocean air have (hopefully) given firefighters the upper hand, at least for awhile! The cause of the fire appears to be a power tool used to clear brush in the area. The fire is 55% contained, and most of the 50,000 evacuees have been permitted to return to their homes and businesses by this afternoon. The fire has consumed almost 9000 acres and destroyed or damaged 80 homes and businesses. Eighteen firefighters have been injured. Portions of three roads and Highway 154 remain closed.)
More than 800 evacuees were in shelters. Local hotels were offering deals to evacuees.
(Note added May 09, 2009: For a brief history of this fire, see my original blog entry here.)
The beautiful coastal city of Santa Barbara is located between the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north. The city experiences fierce winds (50 mile/hour gusts yesterday evening) called “Sundowners” that sweep down the mountains from north to south. Firefighters seem to be gaining the upper hand during the day, and then evening winds give the advantage to the fire.
It saddens me to see televised coverage of the fire, since we became familiar with the area while our daughter was earning her bachelors degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, which is actually located in Goleta.
The beautiful Mission Santa Barbara was also evacuated, and only three friars were permitted to remain during the evacuation. The Mission was first established by Spanish Franciscans in 1786. The current Mission was built in 1820, eight years after the previous structure was destroyed in an earthquake.
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
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