UPDATE: Tea Fire Evacuations
Westmont Campus Confirmed on Fire
The fire has a name: the Tea Fire. As of a notice from the Sheriff’s Department, areas under mandatory evacuation include Hot Springs Road and El Cielito north of the 192.
Areas under evacuation warning include Hot Springs Road, Sycamore Canyon, and Salinas to Highway 101.
Any families near the fire with elderly or disabled relatives are also encouraged to evacuate now.
Evacuees should go to San Marcos High School, at 4750 San Marcos Road in Goleta.
According to Ray Ford, portions of Coyote Road are on fire, and the fire seems to be moving diagonally toward the southwest. Portions of the Westmont campus are on fire. Students have congregated into the campus gym, which is allegedly fireproof. They have emergency supplies that will last two days.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is also asking local media to announce that all off-duty sworn personnel with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department should report to duty in uniform at the Main Station in Goleta in response to the Tea Fire.
Because power is shaky throughout Santa Barbara, people may want to sign up for Indy Alerts, which will send text messages to your phone with vital information. Do so here.
Call 211 for evacuation information.