Wildfire Update – Cave Fire Update
A wildfire in Santa Barbara County has burned 4,100 acres and the Containment Level has been raised to 20 percent. Power outages are common and evacuation orders are in effect. Check out this update for the latest information. Here are some things you should know. A Debris Flow Evacuation Warning is in effect for an area between Patterson Avenue/Anderson Lane and Ontare Road, including the 3500 and 3300 blocks of State Street, below the burned area of the Cave Fire.
Santa Barbara County wildfire burns 4,100 acres
A fire in Santa Barbara County has burned more than 4,100 acres as of Tuesday morning. The Cave Fire started Monday afternoon, along San Marcos Pass Road, about 5 miles west of the Thomas Fire burn scar. It is a massive wildfire with zero containment. As of Tuesday morning, there were no reports of any homes being damaged by the fire, but one or two structures were destroyed outside homes. Approximately 600 firefighters and nine helicopters are battling the blaze.
The fire in Santa Barbara County had reached 8,000 acres by Tuesday evening, and evacuation orders were in effect in areas north of the city. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Wanda Romero lives a mile from the fire, but said she did not evacuate. On Tuesday morning, she visited the Red Cross evacuation shelter in Goleta to pick up particulate masks to protect her family from the smoky air.
The fire was first reported in the early morning hours, and by late afternoon, fire officials were battling the blaze. The fire is still uncontained, but the Santa Barbara County Fire Department has secured federal grant money to cover the cost of firefighting. FEMA has also approved the County’s request to receive up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting expenses. As of Tuesday morning, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued a health advisory, urging residents to limit their time outdoors. Residents should wear a N95 mask when they are outside. The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District also recommended using the recirculate setting of their car air conditioners when driving.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department has issued evacuation orders. The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management has updated its evacuation map, which has a map of the affected areas. Air support has been provided by night-flying helicopters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties. As of noon Tuesday, all but 324 people had left the evacuation area. The fire is expected to continue to spread on Tuesday.
Containment is at 20 percent
The latest official estimate of the size of the Cave Fire is 3,126 acres. As of Monday afternoon, containment has reached 20 percent. Highway 154 remains closed. Residents of the area are encouraged to monitor the fire’s progress using social media. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to battle the fire. As a result, firefighters are able to use more manpower to put out more blazes and protect more homes and businesses.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office lifted the evacuation orders for Cathedral Oaks and Patterson neighborhoods as of Wednesday evening. The Cave Fire is expected to continue to burn until it reaches the county’s limit of 8,000 acres. A second fire has also been reported near the Cave Fire that has jumped the Windy Gap and is burning just above the Bridge to Nowhere. A large group of cars blocked the road for evacuees and emergency personnel.
The Cave Fire spreads toward the Los Padres National Forest, threatening several neighborhoods. The fire began Monday afternoon in the Santa Ynez Mountains near Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park. It grew quickly overnight, with strong winds pushing the fire in various directions. Firefighters were helped by steady rainfall to smother the blaze. By Wednesday morning, containment was at 20 percent and the fire had scorched 4,367 acres.
The fire is 20 percent contained as of Monday evening, with firefighters continuing to monitor the perimeter. Fire crews are also using firing operations to clear unburned fuel ahead of the fire. This allows it to hit the operational area with less fuel. While the fire is at 20 percent, pockets of fuel in the interior continue to burn. Some smoke is visible in the area around the fire, but this is not a huge concern.
Power outages
As of Friday, October 12, there are approximately 745 power outages along the north coast of California, and at least 888 people are without power in the Illinois Valley. According to Pacific Power, the outages will affect 36 counties, including the Monterey Bay and the northern Central Coast. The fire began when a live wire struck a fence, sparking a fire. The fire was quickly put out by snow.
The Austin Electric Utility, which serves 366,000 customers in Hill Country, reported two power outages Thursday morning that affected 50 customers. The outages were most severe in Southeast Austin near Texas 71 and Northeast Austin. However, power has returned to residents in the West and Southwest Austin areas, but some areas are still without power. The outage in Hill County has lasted nearly a week, and Austin Electric is assessing the damage.
During the fire, California utilities acknowledged that the heat storm was an “extraordinary event” but blamed their reliance on renewable energy and the lack of batteries. The power companies said that 40% of outages were restored within 6 hours. However, that’s far from enough time for a full recovery. PG&E, SCE, and Pacific Gas and Electric all had outages in 2018, and a large portion of their customers were without power for more than 24 hours.
Although there has been no information on whether the cave fire caused the power outages, it’s important to note that the company has approximately 6,300 employees ready to begin their investigation. Depending on the severity of the damage to PG&E equipment, it could take days before power is restored to all customers. The outage in the area is a huge inconvenience for residents and business owners alike. In Placerville, sports memorabilia dealer Tod Pickett estimated losing thousands of dollars in sales.
Evacuation orders
A mandatory evacuation order for the Cave Fire was lifted early Wednesday morning. The orders covered areas where residents had been evacuated at the start of the fire as well as areas where evacuation orders were in place due to debris flow. Residents of these areas were advised to stay on the lookout for any changes in the weather or conditions. Authorities also advised residents to stay alert to the area and stay safe. The cave fire is still 20% contained.
The Cave Fire has burned more than 4,260 acres. As of Wednesday, it was 20% contained, affecting a total of 2,280 residents. Authorities are evaluating repopulation plans. The fire is expected to be fully contained by Thanksgiving. Residents in affected areas should not return home until conditions improve, but they should remain out of the area until further notice. Residents of the impacted areas should check with local officials before making a decision.
The Santa Barbara County Fire is responding to the Cave Fire and is providing updates on its status. Evacuation orders were issued around 5 p.m., with the majority of people remaining out of their homes until the mandatory evacuation order is lifted. Residents are encouraged to monitor updates on Twitter to remain informed of the latest developments. This article originally appeared on a site dedicated to cave fire updates. The link below will provide more information about the fire.
The Cave Fire continues to spread across southern California, but has only been 20% contained as of Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters are hoping that rain will come and help contain the fire. A rain delay could hamper the fire’s containment. The fire is still expected to grow a substantial amount today, but firefighters are working diligently to bring it under control. It is estimated to reach full containment by Wednesday night. It is forecast to rain as early as midnight on Wednesday.
Weather conditions
The National Weather Service said that the amount of rain forecast Tuesday night would not be enough to trigger a flood or debris flow. The National Weather Service’s Mark Jackson called the storm “well-behaved.” However, residents were not satisfied with this forecast and have asked for more information. In the meantime, residents can monitor firefighting efforts using this interactive map. It’s important to monitor the conditions as they relate to the cave fire.
Officials in California have warned residents to expect rain this week as the Cave Fire continues to burn more than four thousand acres in the Los Padres National Forest. This weather event is largely due to the fact that erratic winds push the fire downhill, resulting in a widespread evacuation of the nearby Santa Barbara and Goleta cities. Luckily, no homes or structures have been destroyed and firefighters are still working to put out the flames.
Despite the rainy weather, Santa Barbara County Fire officials have allowed crews access to the San Antonio debris basin early Tuesday. The fire also burned the Maria Ygnacio Creek watershed. The County Fire department has issued updates on the fire, including evacuation orders, air quality, road closures, power outages, and emergency alerts. The Central Coast will receive a storm between midnight and 4 a.m. Wednesday, which will bring rain and winds.