gauchogolfer
May 6, 2009, 06:38 PM
For those who haven't yet heard, there's a pretty significant fire going since yesterday afternoon in the foothills above Santa Barbara. It's named the Jesusita Fire after a hiking trail which is near the point of origin. So far no structures have burned, but thousands are evacuated. The smoke and ash in the air is pretty miserable, and winds have caused the fire to get more intense this afternoon.
A good link to stay informed is the Santa Barbara Independent (http://www.independent.com/).
After morning optimism, the afternoon has turned to disaster in the mountains above Santa Barbara, as the Jesusita Fire has reached explosive proportions.
“This thing is way out of control,” said city fire spokesperson John Ahlman at about 4:15 p.m. “All we can do now is try to save some homes.” It’s not far from Mission Canyon, explained Ahlman, and the wind is blowing south-southeast, in that direction, with gusts approaching 60 miles per hour.
In response to the fanned flames, the mandatory evacuation has been extended dramatically. Authorities are now ordering residents to leave all homes located east of Alamar Avenue, from Foothill Road south to State Street, State Street to Constance Avenue, Constance to Los Olivos Street, Los Olivos to Alameda Padre Serra, APS to Sycamore Canyon Road, north on Sycamore Canyon to Highway 192 at El Cielito. The evacuation warning remains in effect for all other previously warned areas. Traffic on the streets and highways of Santa Barbara are reportedly deadlocked, so residents are urged to leave as soon as possible, because it may take some time to get to a safe area.
At about 4 p.m., Ray Ford called from his post with firefighters atop Inspiration Peak. He said he was surrounded by fire on all sides, but that he was safe in an already burned area. Ford had seen spotting reach all the way east toward Montecito, and feared that fires may be starting there. Rattlesnake Canyon now seems to also be engulfed in flames.
Another report said that the fire had reached where the asphalt ends at Tunnel Road and the Edison Trail.
Flames were visible from downtown by about 3 p.m., and smoke clouded the skies. The power went out sporadically in various neighborhoods. Temperatures were breaching 95 degrees and humidity was dropping precipitously.
Update: Here's a link to a GoogleMap of the fire: http://bit.ly/4UnEC
A good link to stay informed is the Santa Barbara Independent (http://www.independent.com/).
After morning optimism, the afternoon has turned to disaster in the mountains above Santa Barbara, as the Jesusita Fire has reached explosive proportions.
“This thing is way out of control,” said city fire spokesperson John Ahlman at about 4:15 p.m. “All we can do now is try to save some homes.” It’s not far from Mission Canyon, explained Ahlman, and the wind is blowing south-southeast, in that direction, with gusts approaching 60 miles per hour.
In response to the fanned flames, the mandatory evacuation has been extended dramatically. Authorities are now ordering residents to leave all homes located east of Alamar Avenue, from Foothill Road south to State Street, State Street to Constance Avenue, Constance to Los Olivos Street, Los Olivos to Alameda Padre Serra, APS to Sycamore Canyon Road, north on Sycamore Canyon to Highway 192 at El Cielito. The evacuation warning remains in effect for all other previously warned areas. Traffic on the streets and highways of Santa Barbara are reportedly deadlocked, so residents are urged to leave as soon as possible, because it may take some time to get to a safe area.
At about 4 p.m., Ray Ford called from his post with firefighters atop Inspiration Peak. He said he was surrounded by fire on all sides, but that he was safe in an already burned area. Ford had seen spotting reach all the way east toward Montecito, and feared that fires may be starting there. Rattlesnake Canyon now seems to also be engulfed in flames.
Another report said that the fire had reached where the asphalt ends at Tunnel Road and the Edison Trail.
Flames were visible from downtown by about 3 p.m., and smoke clouded the skies. The power went out sporadically in various neighborhoods. Temperatures were breaching 95 degrees and humidity was dropping precipitously.
Update: Here's a link to a GoogleMap of the fire: http://bit.ly/4UnEC
