The Los Padres National Forest is again forewarning residents not to mistake dust clouds for smoke clouds. After the fire suppression actions taken to control the Gap Fire, restoration work is required in the area. Equipment is currently being used which is kicking up large clouds of dust above Goleta coming from West Camino Cielo. Rangers are alerting the public of the dust clouds so as to prevent needless 911 calls.
Crews are using a piece of machinery called a “masticator” to repair the damage along fire control lines and roads in the Gap Fire area. The masticator is a backhoe-type machine that uses an articulating arm to chop woody vegetation. Breath easy and stay off the emergency lines, what is visible from the Santa Barbara and Goleta area is not a new fire, just clean-up from the Gap Fire.