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Brush Fire Threatening Homes in Santa Barbara, Mandatory Evacuations Ordered [UPDATED]
Photo by Prapann via Shutterstock
A brush fire is moving through the hilly terrain of Santa Barbara, and is threatening homes near Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road.The blaze has already grown significantly, reports CBS2:
Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Dave Sadecki told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO officials are concerned about this particular blaze. “We do have a big problem,” said Sadecki. “It’s kind of early in the morning to have a fire of this magnitude.”
The original report [of the fire] came in at 7:48 a.m. with flames seen near the Lotus Retreat area. The incident is being called the Lookout Fire, and is now threatening homes in the Rim Road, Glen Road, and Lookout Road areas.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in the area.
UPDATE 11:18 AM
A prior broadcast report that the fire was 50 acres has been corrected, NBC Los Angeles tells us in an email. "The correct acreage as of 11 a.m. is 15."
The fire continues to burn at this time, and the OEM notes the following issue: "The primary concern is the potential for increasing winds as the day progresses."
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Highway 154 is open.
UPDATE 10:20 AM
The Santa Barabara Sheriff is evacuating the following area, per this map provided by the Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management:
Map via SBOEM
KEYT.COM has live streaming coverage of the fire here.
UPDATE 9:58 AM
"Fire officials are in the process of evacuating approximately 100 homes, said Capt. David Sadecki of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department," reports NBC Los Angeles. Reverse 911 calls have been going out to notify residents of evacuations.
Tankers are making some drops from above, and firefighters are working from the ground as well.
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