Santa Barbara Jesusita Fire – 5
Local TV station, KEYT, is updating this link continuously. The latest update is from 9PM PDT:
•8,733 acres burned
•55% contained
•Damage assessment in progress – initial estimate of 31 homes destroyed, 47 homes damaged, and 2 outbuildings destroyed.
•140 homes remain under mandatory evacuation order, affecting 350 people.
•More than 3,850 properties under evcaution warning, affecting about 9,625 people.
•Residences threatened- 3,500; commercial properties threatened- 100
•4,543 personnel on scene: 509 engines, 109 crews
•11 air tankers and 13 helicopters
•18 firefighter injuries to date
•Cause under investigation: Tip line – 805-686-5074
•Air quality warning downgraded to Air quality watch
•Estimated costs to date $7.4llion
•Expected containment 5/13/09
The LA Times fire map link, the Enplan Wildfire Viewer, and my ash cleanup post.
CNN is now reporting that California fire possibly started by power tool
(CNN) — The wildfire that scorched thousands of acres and destroyed dozens of homes in Southern California this week apparently was started by a power tool clearing brush in the area, fire officials said Sunday.
The fire started near a trail in the Santa Barbara, California, area and appears to have been “related to the use of power tool equipment involved in vegetation clearance,” according to the multi-agency group fighting the fires.
Why didn’t whoever was doing this report the fire immediately? They may have been doing something that was against the rules, but they obviously understood the danger of wildfires, or they wouldn’t have been cutting brush. I just don’t understand people sometimes.
2 comments
Just horrible news….35 goats that were hired to clear the brush in Mission Canyon perished in the fire…trapped in their makeshift pen because we all thought we had dodged a bullet…then the sundowners came back with a vengence.
My friend and his wife came back yesterday from their Italian vacation to an inhabitable home. Not fully destroyed…but pretty much ashes. He’s in shock…as we all are in this city.
cookie jill´s last blog post..If Los Angeles has a Fire Service Recognition Day
I noticed a big jump in the number for destroyed and damaged structures after it looked like the fire was under control.
Terrible news about the goats – someone should have opened the pen to give them a fighting chance at survival.