Update: Alisal Fires grows to 13,400 acres — but containment is up
Update to this story >> >> Highway 101 still closed as Alisal Fire scorches 14,500 acres in Santa Barbara County
Update, 6:45 p.m.:
The Alisal Fire has grown to an estimated 13,400 acres and containment has increased to 5%, according to Santa Barbara County Fire spokesman Mike Eliason.
Eliason said “crews will continue to work overnight to provide structure defense, strengthen existing control lines and implement new ones.”
Update, 3:30 p.m.:
The Alisal Fire had burned an estimated 8,000 acres by Friday mid-afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Original story:
A wind-driven fire burning in rugged terrain north of Santa Barbara grew to 6,000 acres overnight, forcing a continued closure of Highway 101 and moving within sight of former President Ronald Reagan’s famed ranch.
The Alisal Fire was 0% contained as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, Santa Barbara County Fire Department public information officer Mike Eliason said via Twitter.
The blaze was threatening 100 to 120 structures, including ranches and homes, Eliason said.
Fueled by gusty winds, the Alisal Fire grew from 3,700 acres Monday to 6,000 acres overnight, Eliason said.
“Hopefully, lesser winds will allow air support to work the fire today,” he wrote via Twitter, noting that there were 600 firefighters at the site as of Tuesday morning.
Highway 101 remained closed Tuesday from 0.3 miles north of Goleta at Winchester Canyon Road to the Highway 1 junction in Las Cruces, according to Caltrans.
Drivers were advised to use Highway 154 as a detour. The agency said there is no estimate as to when the road will reopen.
“Having jumped the four lanes of Highway 101, flames continue to burn early Tuesday morning along the Gaviota Coast,” Eliason wrote via Twitter.
Fire can be seen from Reagan Ranch
Smoke from the Alisal Fire was visible from former President Ronald Reagan’s Rancho del Cielo, located northwest of Santa Barbara.
The fire was burning in the Refugio Canyon below the ranch, according to a noon statement by the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), which preserves Reagan Ranch.
“Fire crews are working diligently to keep the fire away from the ranch,” the Los Padres National Forest Service posted on Twitter.
Multiple fire engines were on site at Reagan Ranch, and fire retardant was being sprayed around the property, according to the YAF statement.
“We have emergency personnel on site, our systems are tested and prepped, and we are in direct contact with emergency officials,” the YAF posted on Twitter.
Evacuations ordered along Gaviota coast
Meanwhile, residents of Arroyo Hondo Canyon, Refugio Canyon and the area between El Capitan Beach State Park and West Camino Cielo have been ordered to evacuate, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. The evacuation order was originally issued Monday and remained in effect as of 6:20 a.m. Tuesday.
Residents of the area east of El Capitan Beach State Park, west of Dos Pueblos Canyon Road, and south of West Camino Cielo were under an evacuation warning as of Tuesday.
“Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
An evacuation center was established in the upper parking lot of Dos Pueblos High School at 7266 Alameda Ave. in Goleta.
Large animals were being kept at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Call 805-681-4332 for assistance with animal evacuation.
The Alisal Fire started near the Alisal Reservoir around 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to InciWeb.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 9:14 AM with the headline "Update: Alisal Fires grows to 13,400 acres — but containment is up."
