Various Jesusita Announcements

[Updated below]

Utility Service Numbers

If you need to reconnect any of your utilities you may call the following numbers 24 hours a day:

Gas Company: 1-800-427-2200

Southern California Edison: 1-800-655-4555

Goleta Water District: 805-964-6761

Santa Barbara Water District: 805-963-4286

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Traffic

As of 6:00 P.M., Highway 154 is fully open in both directions.

All motorists are reminded to be aware of fire equipment operating on HWY 154 (San Marcos Pass). There will be an especially high volume of slow-moving fire equipment during the early morning commute hours. Please expect long delays on HWY 154.

[UPDATED]: Effective at 9:00 pm the current mandatory evacuation orders in effect have been downgraded to an evacuation warning. Residents are free to return to their homes in the following areas:

• Tunnel Road North of Montrose, Palamino Road North of Williams Way, San Roque Road North of the Water Treatment Plant.

Please remember that an evacuation warning stills exists in the above areas. Residents returning are cautioned to remain aware of the potential for an evacuation order on short notice.

The public is reminded to keep out of the remaining mandatory evacuation order areas:

• Painted Cave Road At Hwy 154, Painted Cave Road To East Camino Cielo, East Camino Cielo To Hwy 154, Hwy 154 To Painted Cave Road. East Camino Cielo And Gibraltar road remain closed.

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Treating Victims with respect

One of our reporters ran across some folks who may have inadvertently offended some victims of this fire.

Sam Kornell says, “I’ve talked with residents of the areas affected by the Jesusita fire today, many of whom made a similar request — now that most evacuation orders have been lifted, there is an understandable urge to drive into the hills to survey the burn areas: please respect the privacy of those residents whose homes did burn.

“Do not take pictures, and do not trespass on their property. For many Santa Barbarans the Jesusita fire was not a historical event, but rather a personal tragedy. Please respect their privacy.”

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Schools Open

All schools, child development, and after school programs in the following school will be open on Monday, May 11, 2009:

Santa Barbara School District

• Adams Elementary

• Cleveland Elementary

• Caesar Chavez Charter

• Franklin Elementary

• Harding Elementary

• Open Alternative School

• McKinley Elementary

• Monroe Elementary

• Parma Children’s Center

• Peabody Charter

• Roosevelt Elementary

• Santa Barbara Charter School

• Santa Barbara Community Academy

• Washington Elementary

• Home School Santa Barbara on the Monte Vista campus

• Dos Pueblos High

• Goleta Valley Junior High

• La Colina Junior High

• La Cuesta Continuation High School (including Community Day School)

• La Cumbre Junior High

• Santa Barbara Junior High

• Santa Barbara High

• San Marcos High

Hope School District

• Hope Elementary

• Monte Vista

• Vieja Valley

Bishop Diego High School

• Monday: Staff and A.P. Physics class

• Tuesday: Open to all students

For additional school information, please contact the following districts:

Santa Barbara County Education Office, 805-964-4711

Santa Barbara School District, 805-963-4331

Cold Springs School District, 805-969-2678

Goleta School District, 805-681-1200

Hope School District, 805-682-2564

Bishop Garcia Diego High School, 805-967-1266