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Yahoo!As of Saturday morning, May 9, at 8:30 a.m., evacuation orders remain in effect for the Jesusita Fire, according to Nina Johnson, City of Santa Barbara public information officer, who also forwarded the following statistics on the fire's status, following an 8 a.m. briefing from the CalFire joint command. Full morning reports are expected soon from Independent reporters Chris Meagher and Ray Ford.
8,700 acres burned.
30 percent contained.
Damage assessment in progress. Initial estimate is 80 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
Approximately 12,204 properties evacuated (mandatory evacuation orders); affects approximately 30,500 people.
More than 11,524 properties under evacuation warning; approximately 29,000 people affected.
3,500 residences threatened, and 100 commercial properties threatened.
4,222 personnel on scene: 499 engines, 101 crews.
11 air tankers and 13 helicopters.
13 firefighter injuries to date.
Cause under investigation: Tip line (805) 686-5074.
Air quality warning remains in effect.
Estimated costs to date $4.3 million.
Expected containment 5/13/09.
Full morning reports are expected soon from Independent reporters Chris Meagher and Ray Ford.
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For $4.5 million I think we could have done a lot of controlled burning. The area around tunnel road has been building up brush for about 50 years with all fires being put out. Burning when the wind is blowing up seems to make much more sense to me than waiting for a fire storm to come in with a sundowner. This whole scene of calling up a army and air force of fire fighters after the fact does not make sense to me. Maybe the communities that let the fire conditions get so bad should be billed for the fire fighting cost?
Fire Eagle
FireEagle (anonymous profile)
May 9, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While we're engaged in forward thinking, why not consider enacting building codes that require all new construction in the fire-prone areas to be so fire-proof as to afford fire-fighters places to shelter in coolness and safety? If this were done, along with some controlled burns, then nature and fires could run their course ... and costs to the public would be greatly reduced in the long run.
sbripman (anonymous profile)
May 9, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great to see the progress. Good news on both fronts. Hope the conditions hold, thanks so much for the great coverage Indy. as always.
CGerlach (anonymous profile)
May 9, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)