Highway 154 Closed

Fire apears (unconfirmed) to have jumped 154, local media sources. but no confirmation.

If you want a good view that's out of the way go to the breakwater.
Clear air, not hot, and not in anyone's ways.

We just evacuated our friends' house off San Antonio Creek about 9:15. I couldn't believe how many people were crowding the roads as residents were trying to evacuate. Come on people, show some common-sense and common-courtesy and keep your distance. I understand the urge to watch, but keep lots of distance.

definite word that it has NOT jumped yet.

Thank you to CGerlach, we are getting the most up-to-date coverage from you right now. We appreciate it.

154 shut down in both directions, only emergency response vehicles allowed.

TWO SHELTERS NOW OPEN: 1) Dos Pueblos 2) Multi Activity Court (MAC) AT USCB Behind the Main gym on Ocean Road ...from Red Cross

What's going on now? I'm at Winchester Canyon and constantly see and hear aircraft now. It seems like they're really stepping up the aerial attack in this area.

Oh, good. I hate to think the fire's heading towards Goleta. Not again.

Looking from ucsb/airport area, the media helicopters are "hanging out" above the hills above Goleta, a la above the Gap fire burn area. I believe they're not allowed below a certain altitude, and they have to be over quite a ways to the west to be able to see under the smoke and to the flames near 154.

Also, now all areas north of Cathdral Oaks and east of PATTERSON are under mandatory evacuation, per KEYT.

New Red Cross Shelter at UCSB at Mesa Road and Ocean, by the main Gymn

Direstions to MAC@UCSB: 217, go right @ traffic circle. @ 3rd light, go Left on Ocean. Parking is on left shelter on right

Helicopters are taking off about every 4 minutes from SB Jr. HS. Live about 2 blocks away, and they seem to be heading West, whether they are going for the Western flank, not sure.

The Firefighters are making a stand at 154, winds erratic, bulldozers are there, and they are fighting with everything they have got.

Dos Pueblos Shelter is full now, please go to the new Shelter at UCSB, see directions above.

Anybody have info on the Eastern flank? I know winds have been howling in Montecito...but not much more.

82 Degrees, 9% humdity at the Mission
Hills of Montecito, winds 49 mph

CGerlach's directions to UCSB shelter are correct; those reported on KEYT are slightly incorrect. But CGerlach is correct, 217 to UCSB, right at the traffic circle (which is Mesa Rd.), then left on Ocean Rd. Plenty of parking there near corner of Mesa and Ocean.

What is the status of the original fire area around Mission Canyon? I saw lots of smoke there before the west blew up.

Ash is getting thicker, please be cautious if you have breathing difficulties. Use a bandana or a filter mask. It will get thicker i expect from past fires. Be safe, be careful, and if you are in an evac area, get out now, if warned, get ready now. :)

there is a news conference right now (audio) on KEYT

KEYT Channel 3 Press conference now KCOY as well

From the Press Conference.....

Heed the Evac orders that have come rather suddenly with the sudden change in conditions.

NOrth of Cathedral Oaks West of Camino Cielo, is the most endangered area currenttly

Everyone west and south of the mandatory area needs to be prepared as well.

Goleta West of Patteerson south of 101,
Hope Ranch area think of the possiblity of evan as well.

this incident is probably the worst faced by the county in the past 25 years.

Everyone needs to be involved.

Think if you can take someone in, friends, family, neighbors

Conserve water in any way possible.

Do NOT to sightseeing. It endangers them and interferes with the efforts to fight the fires.

No one on staff can remember seeing this many staff activated for any emergency before. The largest response in operations in the past 25 years.

They do not have an updated number of homes lost...

the fire is burning in a remote area but it is headed for a populated area.

Immediate from the Deputy Incident Commander

Increased activity.
Lots of new ppl came and went right to work

the companies already working for some 40 hours...are resting now.

a new 130 are going to work

asked for new resources from Los Angeles Basin

deployed 200 plus engine companies and more will come with the day shift tomorrow

night copters are operating.

fire and law enforcement are working to get people out of the path of the fire acting like a blow torch

on TV the flames do not have the impact that they do for real.

There is new acerage growth but no numbers

No confirmed fire crosssing to the west side of 154

Majority of the air fight was on the East side, the activity was over there. A lot of progress was made with hand crews and dozers were making good progress on the East Side

Now there is a shift ot the West flank due to the wind.

We took advantage of what we could on the East, and tomorrow we hope to hold on to that and work on the north and the west

This is one of the most difficult places in the US to fight fires because of the coastal winds, the mountain winds and we have learned a lot from past incidents that we are putting to work on this fire. There are times we have to pull back.

The weather folks are accurate...we are getting 40 - 60 mph winds up there.....

Air resources.... there were some diversions to other fires, and turbulent winds prevented drops...so there were some less at times

4 tankers from Cal Fire
4 federal tankers

Personell and equipment.....

2300 firefighters
246 engines
62 hand crews
10 tankers
15 choppers

containment is at 10% based on the good work done yesterday.... there was zero yesterday.

we used a lot of the resources and lots of hard work to get as much containment as we can and hold on to that each day....

additional evacs....brings the total to about 20,000 evacutated

I heard from a friend that lives off Linden Ave, in Carp. He's seeing some flames Eastern flank from there.

Unconfirmed reports of lights (electricity) flickering in both Downtown and Goleta

http://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/dept0.aspx...

Mandatory Evacuation Orders
A Mandatory Evacuation Order is now in effect for all areas north of Cathedral Oaks Drive east of Highway 154 to San Jose Creek (Near Patterson Avenue), all areas north of La Colina Road between Highway 154 and La Cumbre Road, and all areas north of State Street between La Cumbre Road and San Roque Road.
An Evacuation Warning/Advisory has been issued for the area south of Cathedral Oaks Drive, west of Highway 154, east of Turnpike Road, and north of US Highway 101.
THE MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER AREAS NOW INCLUDE: San Jose Creek (western boundary) north of Cathedral Oaks Road to Highway 154, from Highway 154 south to La Colina Road, La Colina Road east to La Cumbre Road, La Cumbre Road south to State Street, State Street east to San Roque, San Roque Road south to Calle Norguera, Calle Norguera to Alamar Avenue, Alamar Avenue south to State Street, State Street (All businesses are free to open) to Constance Avenue, Constance Avenue to Garden Street, Garden Street to Micheltorena Street, Micheltorena Street north to the end of the road, extending to Alameda Padre Serra, Alameda Padre Serra, east to Sycamore Canyon Road (eastern boundary), north on Sycamore Canyon Road to Highway 192 (Stanwood Drive) to El Cielito.

Evacuation Warnings
THE EVACUATION WARNING/ADVISORY AREA NOW INCLUDE: Turnpike Road (western boundary), Turnpike Road and US Highway 101 east to the State Street/Calle Real intersection, east on State Street to La Cumbre Road, La Cumbre Road north to La Colina Road, La Colina Road west to Highway 154, Highway 154 north to Cathedral Oaks, Cathedral Oaks Drive east to Turnpike Road, Turnpike Road south to US Highway 101.

AND areas in the City of Santa Barbara south of the Mandatory evacuation area north of State Street from San Roque Road to De La Vina Street, De La Vina Street, to Anapamu Street, Anapamu Street to Anacapa Street, Anacapa Street south to De La Guerra Street, De La Guerra Street to Milpas Street, Milpas Street south to Quinientos Street (new boundary), Quinientos Street to Clifton Street to Eucalyptus Hill Road, Eucalyptus Hill Road to Barker Pass Road, Barker Pass Road to Highway 192 (Sycamore Canyon Road), Highway 192 (Sycamore Canyon Road) west to Stanwood Drive.

From the Office of Emergency Preparedness County of Santa Barbara....

New Mandatory Evac order has made the area affected much larger.

County wants people to take the fire very seriously and leave early. When you go into an area that is not mandatory but may be a evac warning area, you need to become very aware of your surroundings and become prepared in evey way you can.. If you have medical challenges or large animals, take steps NOW. Do NOT wait for the mandatory alert to come.

Maintain calm, pay attention to your surroundings and leave early.

As for the Eastern Flank fo the fire, they had time to work hard on that area. The fire and the winds came from the North West to the east for the past several days. They had some success stabalizing that area. Now there is a differnt movment, aggressive western movement. No one saw it coming.

Correction...i was typing fast ....
that previous post was info from a call to KTYD just now...from MIchael Harris, Director of Emergency Services..

KEYT says they just confirmed fire has jumped 154