Update: Alisal Fire passes 15,000 acres in Santa Barbara County
Update, 3:12 p.m.:
The Alisal Fire had scorched a total 15,442 acres as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, with 5% containment, Matt Farris, a division chief with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said at a news conference.
“Our operational objectives, our high priority, is to open up the Highway 101 corridor and the railway, as this is a high commerce area,” Farris said.
Farris said firefighting crews were able to use aircraft retardant on the north end of the fire.
“We are unable to drop down the sides, east and west, because of the turbulence and the high wind velocity,” Farris said. “As soon as that comes available, we will be doing further operations in that field.”
Looking back at the wildfire’s initial spread around 2:30 p.m. Monday, Los Padres National Forest Fire Chief Jimmy Harris said crews had a “really good initial attack on this incident” that afternoon, but winds were fierce.
Harris said firefighters experienced winds of up to 70 miles per hour.
“It took about three hours for the fire to go from (West Camino Cielo Road) down to the beach at Tajiguas, as officials faced “incredible challenges with incredible winds,” he said.
“By about three in the afternoon Monday, we had all the local county, local government and federal chiefs in place on the incident, all wanting to do everything they could put this fire out as soon as possible,” Harris said.
Harris said wind shifts make up the “most dangerous time because the fire will change directions on us. So I think we’re well poised to address those challenges with a team that’s come in, and the small army of firefighters that we’ve amassed here on.”
Officials urged residents and travelers to heed advisories.
They said that information about evacuations and other subjects is available and will be updated at readysbc.org/alisal-fire.
Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said crews are working hard to protect a $150 million project in the area that’s aiming to recover methane from organic waste, as well as oil production facilities along the coast.
Hartwig warned the fire conditions will fluctuate based on onshore wind action.
“Onshore flow will then push this well established fire on these canyons up in further into the canyon and into structures that, quite frankly, have been protected from a down wind assault,” Hartwig said. “That will change when the winds change.”
On Twitter, California Highway Patrol officials said at about noon Wednesday that Highway 101 remained closed in both directions of travel from Winchester Canyon Rd to Highway 101 due to the Alisal Fire “with no ETA to reopen.”
Highway 101 and Interstate 5 remained the alternate routes available for detour.
Original story: The Alisal Fire near Goleta had burned 14,500 acres with 5% containment as of Wednesday morning, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Highway 101 remained closed in both directions from just north of Goleta to the junction with Highway 1 at Las Cruces near Gaviota, Caltrans said.
Motorists heading south are advised to take an alternate route — such as Highway 154 or Interstate 5.
“Expect heavier than normal traffic,” California Highway Patrol officials said in a tweet on Tuesday.
The Alisal Fire started near the Alisal Reservoir around 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to InciWeb.
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On Wednesday, firefighters were hoping for favorable winds to help them make progress controlling the blaze with fixed-wing aircraft, Santa Barbara County Fire said in a tweet.
There were 1,300 firefighters on scene as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, as well as five tankers and six helicopters.
“Priorities remain structure defense, perimeter control” and the reopening of Highway 101 and the railroad, Santa Barbara County Fire officials said via Twitter.
Area residents under evacuation order, warnings
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 Wednesday morning.
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.
An addition evacuation warning was issued Tuesday afternoon for the area east of Calle Mariposa Reina, west of Arroyo Hondo, and south of West Camino Cielo, 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, while Santa Barbara County Animal Services was accepting small animals. Call 805-681-4332 for assistance with animal evacuation.
Officials were expected to deliver updates on the Alisal Fire at a news conference planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Earl Warren Showgrounds.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 9:30 AM with the headline "Update: Alisal Fire passes 15,000 acres in Santa Barbara County."
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