Well here we are again, damnit.
A new fire started behind Santa Barbara at about 1:30 this afternoon, now called the Jesusita Fire, named after the Jesusita trail near where this started.
The most reliable source for news on last year's fires was The Independent, our great weekly paper. KEYT, the local TeeVee station is actually doing some reporting this time, but the Indy has been the best source in the past.
The winds are blowing out of the Northwest about 20-30mph, for the third afternoon in a row. Over the last two nights, while the wind was up the temp was in the 80's, and the wind didn't die down until after 10 or so, so we have a long night ahead of us.
The fear here is the Mission Canyon area. This area hasn't burned in a good many years and is loaded with houses. Evacuation is difficult from the area due to small roads that would clog quickly with traffic fleeing the fire.
The fire is still somewhat small but the smoke is blowing away almost parallel to the ground, so the winds up there are strong. That could lead to a very rapid spread of the fire, very much like last Fall's Tea Fire.
I've seen one helicopter but the Independent is reporting two in action. The one I've seen is carrying a water bucket and fighting the winds. If they keep blowing like this I don't think we can expect to see a lot of aerial assistance.
IF you have a vantage point on the fire or have something to add, or need some help, please post below. Last Fall a lot of folks in the Santa Barbara area read my diary and the observations they posted really helped. I'll try to post more as this goes on, but check the Independent site for news.
Update, 3:56pm: No evacuation order yet, but reverse 911 calls have been made warning people to get ready to leave. Traffic in the fire area is jammed. From the Independent:
According to a briefing to the Santa Barbara City Council, the fire is occupying a well-fueled niche between where the Gap Fire burned last summer and where the Tea Fire burned last fall. That area has not burned in many years and is not easily accessible.
That's everyone's nightmare: Mission Canyon burns.
Update, 4:23pm, from the Independent:
EVAC CONFIRMATION as of 3:39 p.m.: Contrary to notices from the County Fire Department below that no evacuations have been issued, Indy reporter Chris Meagher has been told by CHP spokesperson Jim Richards that the areas now under mandatory evacuation include Tunnel Road, north of the Botanic Gardens, including Holly and Spyglass. Also under mandatory evacuation are Orange Grove and Valencia roads, also north of the Botanic Gardens, as well as the top parts of Tunnel and Mission Canyon.
County Fire spokesperson Dave Sadecki said the blaze is a mid-slope fire burning in heavy brush. Winds have changed and are now blowing in a southeasterly direction. The worry is that such winds may push the fire down the slope.
More evacuation notices are expected shortly. Those who live in this general area should stay posted.
So there ya are. This things out of control and burning toward the city. Shit.
More: The wind hasn't changed at my house, just West and downslope from the fire, about La Cumbre and Foothill. It's gusting now more than constant, and it's seems still to be out of the Northwest.
Update: 5:10pm: Independent is reporting complete evacuation for the area around the fire.
Just after 4 p.m., less than three hours after the Jesusita Fire started, the City of Santa Barbara issued mandatory evacuation orders for all residents who live north of Highway 192/Foothill Road and between Morada and Ontare roads on the west and El Cielito/Gibraltar roads on the east. In short, all of San Roque and Mission canyons.
There's a site called Edhat has people posting observations and the latest are not good: towering flames and a shift of the wind to our "sundowners", a down-canyon wind that can blow hot and fierce--and right toward the houses all behind the city.