Update: 1400hrs 5/07/09 - Jesusita fire
Current situation: Active burning on Arlington Peak flare-up with large flame fronts.
Confirmed damage: Structures/homes on these streets: Palomino Road, Mission Canyon Road, Tunnel Road, Holly Road and Spyglass Ridge Road, Internet Reports that lower Mission Heights has not sustained damage, and the neighborhood is quiet with no smoke or wind right now, reports a cautiously optimistic resident.
Update: Noon 5/07/09 -
Evacuations continue - 13,500 people evacuated as 'uncontrolled' wind-fanned wildfire spread Thursday across 1,300 acres in California, forcing Santa Barbara County residents to evacuate and destroying at least 20 homes including mansions in the coastal community's foothills. Fire was driven by gusty winds and low humidity.
About 5,400 homes have been evacuated and another 3,500 are threatened.
Resources: more than 1,400 firefighters, Firefighting helicopters and aircraft as well as 177 engines are currently battling the blaze.. More firefighters and equipment are arriving from throughout the State.
Injuries: 10 firefighters have been injured.
Comment: "The fire is moving very, very rapidly," Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. David Sadecki said Wednesday. "This is an uncontrolled wildfire."
Jesusita fire perimeter and evacuation map
Click on map for larger .jpg version
Credit: Derived and reformatted from SBCFD website .pdf map - Link
5/7/09 at 1125hrs -
1300 acres, 0% contained and 30 structures destroyed. - Strike team from NorCal departing MMU 9420C-ST9420C
E4294, E4255, E4287, E4281, E4262, B11
Meet at Kettleman City, SR41 @ I-5 forming up to stage at Kettleman City Highway41 X I-5
Also MMU ST9121G departing unit.
View SBC Jesusita Fire Santa Barbara, CA in a larger Google mapJesusita fire VNC Burnover Update: 0900hrs - Five Ventura County Firefighters were injured when their engine was over-run atop Spyglass Hill melting the plastic on interior of engine, burning all 5 firefighters on board.
All were sent to Cottage Hospital initially then three firefighters were airlifted to the Grossman Burn Center with 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns but none of them are considered critical.
Update 0900hrs -
Official Ventura County Fire Department News release
Update – Injured Ventura County Firefighters – CAMARILLO, Calif. – The three Ventura County firefighters injured while fighting the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara County are still being listed in serious, but stable condition at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks.
Two press conferences have been scheduled for today.At 9:00 a.m. in Santa Barbara, there will be an update on current fire activities.
At noon, a press conference will be held at the Grossman Burn Center to discuss the condition of the injured firefighters and their prognosis.
Update 0700hrs OSCC -
Jesusita Fire CAL FIRE Team 4(waterman) is in unified command with D'Andrea, Schmitt and McElroy as of 0700 today. This incident has grown to 1300 acres o% percent containment. Increased fire activity yesterday caused additional evacuation areas to be established that remain in effect. Through the night crews held the fire west of Gibraltar road despite significant spotting. Limited and difficult access; single-digit humidities; erratic and gusty winds. Forecasted Sundowner winds http://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/predictive/outlooks/Scal_Fire_Potential.pdfThe three firefighters being treated at the Grossman Burn Center are:Captain Brian Bulger, a 30-year veteran of the Ventura County Fire Department. Captain Bulger is 57 years old and a resident of Ventura. His normal duty station is Station 21 in Ojai.
Captain Ron Topolinski has served with the Ventura County Fire Department for 28 years. He is 51 years old and a resident of Camarillo. His normal duty station is Station 57 in Somis.
Firefighter Robert Lopez has been a firefighter for the Ventura County Fire Department since 2000. He is 44 years old and lives in Port Hueneme. His normal duty station is Station 54 in Camarillo.
CA-LPF- Jesusita fire perimeter map
Credit: calfire news Derived from Geomac
5/7/09 at 0700hrs - 1300 acres 0% -
Incident Number: CA-LPF-1479
Incident Name: Jesusita
Incident Kind: Wildfire
(Full Suppression/Perimeter Control started) : 05/05/2009 1330
Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Commander: CAL FIRE Team 4(waterman) in unified command with D'Andrea, Schmitt and McElroy as of 0700 today. Team will transition to 24 hour shifts with accomodations for non 24 hour resources.
Incident Command Organization: Unified Command CA-LPF
County: Santa Barbara
GPS Latitude and Longitude: Lat: 34° 28´ 20" Long: 119° 34´ 25"
Ownership: CA-LPF
Short Location Description (in reference to nearest town): NW of Mission Cyn in Santa Barbara County.
Size/Area Involved: 1,300 ACRES
Percent Contained: 0 %
Expected Containment Date:
Line to Build:
Estimated Costs Date:
Declared Controlled Date:
Time:
Injuries: 3
Structure Information
Homes burned:
Commercial Property burned:
Outbuilding/Other burned:
Problems/Concerns: Strong downslope sundowner winds that pushed the fire to the east, bumping Gibraltor road Road, and to the west to San Roque Canyon, are predicted to continue
24 hours: If predicted winds and fire behavior continue, the fire may move to the east into Sycamcore Canyon and Barger Canyon to the west
Values at Risk:
12 hours: Structures within the community of Upper and Lower Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, cultural and historic resources within Mission Canyon, communication sites, 240 KV Edison Main transmission lines serving the Mission Canyon and City of Santa Barbara.
24 hours: Upper northwest portions of San Roque Canyon
48 hours: Montecito to the southeast and Goleta to the southwest.
72 hours:
28: Critical Resource Needs:
12 hours: Type I crews, Type I helicopters, Type I fixed-wing aircraft, dozers
24 hours: Type I crews, Type I helicopters, Type I fixed-wing aircraft, dozers
Major problems and concerns: Limited and difficult access; single-digit humidities; erratic and gusty winds. Forecasted Sundowner winds. Lack of air resources hindereing control.
Observed Weather for Current Operational Period
Peak Gusts (mph): 15-25 G 50 Max. Temperature: 65
Wind Direction: NE Min. Relative Humidity: 40
Fuels/Materials Involved: 4 Chaparral (6 Feet) NFFL- TYPE4
Today's observed fire behavior: Strong downslope sundowner winds, spotting
Significant events today: Evacuations, Increased fire activity yesterday caused additional evacuation areas to be established that remain in effect. Through the night crews held the fire west of Gibraltar road despite significant spotting.
Forecasted Weather for next Operational Period
Wind Speed (mph): 20-25 G 50 Temperature: 88-95
Wind Direction: N-NE Relative Humidity: 10-15 %
Estimated Control Date and Time:
Actions planned for next operational period: Perimeter control, continue structure protection, engage fire where opportunities present themselves
Growth Potential - High
Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme
Committed Resources:
Agency CRW1 CRW2 HEL1 HEL2 HEL3 ENGS DOZR WTDR OVHD Camp
Crews Total
Personnel
SR ST SR ST SR SR SR SR ST SR ST SR SR
USFS 1 3 2 3 1 12 132
CNTY 1 4 1 4 11 1 20 392
LGR 1 2 11 17 12 404
ST 9 1 98 3 450
DDQ 16
Total 3 13 6 0 0 0 0 17 32 0 0 2 142 3 1,394
Cooperating and Assisting Agencies Not Listed Above:
SB COUNTY FIRE, SB CITY FIRE, USFS, CARPENTERIA FIRE, MONTICITO FIRE, VENTURA COUNTY FIRE, CAL OES, CALFIRE, SB CO SHERIFFS, SB POLICE, CHP, CALTRANS, SO CAL EDISON, SB CITY WATER RESOURCES
Update: 5/7/09 at 0700hrs - 1300 acres 0% - CAL FIRE Incident Information
CA-SBC/LPF/STB- Jesusita fire
Jesusita Fire IC: CAL FIRE Team 4 is in a unified command on this fire.
County: Santa Barbara County
Start Date/Time: May 5, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.
Location: Northwest of Mission Canyon, City of Santa Barbra - Los Padres National Forest
Administrative Unit: Los Padres National Forest Unit
Acres Burned: 1,300 acres
Containment: 0% contained
Fire activity: Wildland brush fire driven by slope, erratic winds and single digit humidity's are causing significant runs with extreme fire behavior.
For more information: Contact the Jesusita Fire Call Center at (805) 681-5197.
Comments: For the latest on evacuations and fire information visit the City of Santa Barbara Jesusita Fire Information page.
Several Firefighters have been burned at the Jesusita fire.
Update: 5/6/09 at 2300hrs - Reports are that at least 3 VNC Firefighters were overrun by that Santa Barbara wildland fire and were flown out, and are now hospitalized with minor to moderate burn injuries and respiratory injuries.
Initial reports are that Three firefighters have been injured and they have been flown out to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks.
SBC PIO confirming 3 VNC firefighters are being treated a Grossman Burn Center for mild to moderate burn injuries and inhilation injuries. They were taken to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara and stabilized, now they have been transported by air to Grossman.
Current sizeup: 06-06-09 22:00hrs - Extreme fire behavior - 500 acres have burned in a wind-driven wildfire that exploded this afternoon in Santa Barbara. At least a dozen homes have burned and at least 8,000 people have been forced to evacuate....The Gov has also declared a state of emergency.
JESUSITA FIRE STATISTICS
Location: Santa Barbara County, San Roque Canyon (northwest of the Botanic Garden)
Date Started: May 5, 2009 at 1:50 p.m.
Cause: Unknown
Acres Burned: 500
Percent Contained: 0%
Structures Threatened: 2,000
Homes Evacuated: 2,000 homes, 8,000 people
Structures Destroyed: 12 to 20 structures have burned, however no official number has been released.
Injuries: Three firefighters have sustained injuries in a burnover. 1 minor injury
Resources: 884 firefighters, 15 Type 1 S/T's and 8 Type 3 S/T's of engines assigned, 10 Crews, and 3 S/T crews assigned.
Aircraft: 6 fixed wing aircraft and 5 helicopters.
Order placed for minimum of another 30 strike teams.
Weather: Red Flag conditions through Friday, Wind Gusts up to 50 miles per hour. The National Weather Service says strong winds are expected through the night and a red flag Red flag warning in effect until 10 am Friday for the Santa Ynez range and Santa Barbara south coast due to gusty northerly winds and low humidity
SUNDOWNER EVENT - A STRONG NORTHERLY PRESSURE DIFFERENCE ACROSS SANTA BARBARA COUNTY WILL GENERATE STRONG SUNDOWNER WINDS TONIGHT AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR WELL INTO THE 90S DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS...
The warning of Critical Fire Danger is in effect until 1000 hours Friday.
NEXT JESUSITA FIRE PRESS CONFERENCE - 9:00 A.M. THURSDAY, MAY 7
Previous related post:
Jesusita Fire: New mandatory evacuation order, evacuation warning expanded
CA-LPF/SBC Jesusita Incident - Wildland Fire - 196 acres 0%
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