[This report is from US Forest Service, Los Padres HQ]

Effective immediately at noon, Thursday, August 13, 2009, a mandatory Evacuation Order was issued by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for the following area due to fire activity of La Brea Fire:

• ALL of Tepusquet Canyon, from Santa Maria Mesa Road to Highway 166

• ALL of Colson Canyon, including the Blazing Saddles community

• ALL of Ruiz Canyon

The canyon roads are being closed to the public to allow for the evacuations.

Fire and Sheriff officials estimate the new evacuation orders include about 150 homes and ranches.

A mandatory Evacuation Order means people are asked to leave a defined area due to the immediate threat to life and property from an emergency incident.

Map of closure areas of La Brea Fire(large format image)

The New Cuyama High School is currently the designated temporary emergency shelter staffed by the Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Small animals will be allowed to be co-located at the shelter. A large animal shelter has been established at the Santa Maria Fair Park, 937 Thornburg. Animal information is available at (805) 681-4332.

Fire information is available at www.inciweb.org or on the County’s Web site www.CountyofSB.org.

Or call the USFS Fire Information Line at (805) 961-5770 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

All previous evacuation orders and warnings also remain in effect.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.