The fire in the San Rafael Wilderness area has now burned about 86,680 acres and is 60% contained. A significant portion of the rapid increase in the acreage is due to back fires.

Investigators now say that the La Brea Fire was started by a cooking fire at a drug trafficking camp.

There have been 2 minor injuries fighting the fire, and an unused ranger station has been destroyed. The fire has already cost $6.3 million.

Currently there are 141 engines, 59 crews, 29 dozers, 5 air tankers, 14 helicopters, 54 water tenders and 2,152 total personnel assigned to the fire.

The Martin Mars water scoop aircraft is now on station, using Cachuma Lake for refilling its tanks.

Links: The KEYT La Brea Fire article, the Santa Barbara Independent La Brea Fire page, InciWeb La Brea page with a map, KSBY has videos and the Enplan Wildfire Viewer, which used satellite sensors to spot fires.

[For more information go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]

The fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has now burned over 6,800 acres and is 50% contained. The weather has been cooperating, with lighter than expected winds. So far only 4 injuries have been reported and 2 outbuildings have been damaged by the fire. More than 250 residences are threatened. The evacuation order has been lifted for Bonny Doon, but still in place for Swanton, about 300 people.

The primary fuels are redwood and pine trees. The area is mountainous with few roads for access.

Currently there are 291 engines, 28 crews, 31 dozers, 21 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 6 air tankers, and 2,028 personnel assigned to the fire. To date cost $6.2 million.

Links: Cal Fire Lockheed Fire page, the Enplan Wildfire Viewer, the Santa Cruz Sentinel local news page, and their map of the Lockheed Fire.

[For more information go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]

Position: 13.4 N 41.7 W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: West-Northwest [290°] near 20 mph [32 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 70 mph [110 kph].
Wind Gusts: 85 mph [135 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 140 miles [220 km].
Minimum central pressure: 990 mb ↓.

It is 1320 miles [2120 km] East of the Lesser Antilles Islands. It will probably be a category 1 hurricane shortly.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 16.0 N 61.2 W [10 PM 0300 UTC].
Movement: West [285°] near 26 mph [40 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1008.

It is 25 miles [40 km] Southeast of Guadeloupe. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Dominican Republic, for Puerto Rico, for the US and British Virgin Islands, and for the Dutch Leeward Islands of St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius, and for the islands of Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemey.
Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

Position: 30.2 N 86.1 W [10 PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northwest [315°] near 12 mph [19 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph [80 kph].
Wind Gusts: 65 mph [105 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 70 miles [110 km].
Minimum central pressure: 1008 mb.

It is 25 miles [40 km] West of Panama City, Florida and 70 miles [110 km] East-Southeast of Pensacola. Tropical Storm Warning issued from the Alabama/Florida border eastward to the Aucilla River.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

As I posted as an update with the earlier KEYT report, KSBY confirms and adds some additional information – Fire investigators identify cause of the La Brea Fire

In a press release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit and the U.S. Forest Service:

Investigators revealed that the La Brea Fire was started by a cooking fire in a marijuana drug trafficking operation.
…

Although the La Brea Fire started more than one week ago, there is evidence that the unburned marijuana garden area has been occupied within the last several days. The Narcotics Unit has secured the camp area which was located in remote and rugged terrain. It is also believed that the suspects are still within the San Rafael Wilderness trying to leave the area on foot…

Between the actual fire, and the back fires, it is unlikely they will be able to get out. Unless they signal for assistance from an aircraft, their survival chances are between slim and none.