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| Cave Fire in Santa Barbara County Threatens Homes and Forces Evacuations | Cave Fire in Santa Barbara County Threatens Homes and Forces Evacuations |
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| A brush fire that started in the Santa Ynez Mountains of Santa Barbara County, Calif., had burned at least 4,100 acres as of Tuesday morning, prompting the county to declare an emergency and order some residents to evacuate, according to the authorities. | A brush fire that started in the Santa Ynez Mountains of Santa Barbara County, Calif., had burned at least 4,100 acres as of Tuesday morning, prompting the county to declare an emergency and order some residents to evacuate, according to the authorities. |
| So far, no homes have been destroyed and no injuries have been connected to the blaze, which the authorities were calling the Cave Fire. It began around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, Santa Barbara County said in a news release, and was advancing toward populated areas in the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta as well as unincorporated areas of the county. | So far, no homes have been destroyed and no injuries have been connected to the blaze, which the authorities were calling the Cave Fire. It began around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, Santa Barbara County said in a news release, and was advancing toward populated areas in the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta as well as unincorporated areas of the county. |
| The fire was zero percent contained as of Tuesday morning, Mike Eliason, the county’s fire public information officer, said on Twitter. At least 600 firefighters had been assigned to fight the blaze, he said. | The fire was zero percent contained as of Tuesday morning, Mike Eliason, the county’s fire public information officer, said on Twitter. At least 600 firefighters had been assigned to fight the blaze, he said. |
| The county declared a local emergency on Monday night and requested that Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaim a state of emergency, the release said, adding that evacuation centers were opened for displaced community members and animals. It was unclear how many residents were in the evacuation zones and how many homes had been threatened by the blaze. | The county declared a local emergency on Monday night and requested that Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaim a state of emergency, the release said, adding that evacuation centers were opened for displaced community members and animals. It was unclear how many residents were in the evacuation zones and how many homes had been threatened by the blaze. |
| The office of Governor Newsom said on Monday on Twitter that it was monitoring the fire. | |
| Sections of southern Santa Barbara County were experiencing power failures because of the fire, the county said on Twitter, adding that the blackouts were not related to any intentional power shut-off by utility companies. | Sections of southern Santa Barbara County were experiencing power failures because of the fire, the county said on Twitter, adding that the blackouts were not related to any intentional power shut-off by utility companies. |
| Power failures were reported in unincorporated areas between Goleta and Santa Barbara, along Highway 145 through Mission Canyon and parts of Summerland and Carpinteria. | Power failures were reported in unincorporated areas between Goleta and Santa Barbara, along Highway 145 through Mission Canyon and parts of Summerland and Carpinteria. |
| Firefighting crews worked throughout the night and received additional help from nearby counties. The Ventura County Fire Department sent 10 fire engines to help battle the wind-driven blaze, and the Los Angeles Fire Department also sent crews. | Firefighting crews worked throughout the night and received additional help from nearby counties. The Ventura County Fire Department sent 10 fire engines to help battle the wind-driven blaze, and the Los Angeles Fire Department also sent crews. |
| At least one firefighter was recorded spraying water from a hillside down onto flames. Another video showed a helicopter dropping water onto flames near a home. | At least one firefighter was recorded spraying water from a hillside down onto flames. Another video showed a helicopter dropping water onto flames near a home. |
| Wind gusts in the area reached up to 74 miles per hour Monday night, the National Weather Service forecast office for the Los Angeles and Oxnard, Calif., area said. | |
| “Whenever you have a fire that’s being pushed by a 40 or 50 mile an hour wind, you can’t keep up with it, you can’t control it,” Capt. Daniel Bertucelli, public information officer for Santa Barbara County’s fire department, told local station KSBY on Monday. | |
| The best strategy is to get ahead of the fire, he added. | |
| Weather conditions on Tuesday were expected to be sunny with a high near 66 degrees, with winds around five miles per hour before turning calm, according to a weather service forecast. Rain was set to move into the area after 10 p.m., with temperatures falling to around 45 degrees. | |
| Rain was also expected for Wednesday before 10 a.m., the forecast said, with a high of 61 degrees. | Rain was also expected for Wednesday before 10 a.m., the forecast said, with a high of 61 degrees. |
| Santa Barbara City College said it had canceled classes on Tuesday and Wednesday “out of an abundance” of caution related to the Cave Fire. University of California Santa Barbara said its campus was not under any immediate threat on Tuesday, but school officials were closely monitoring the situation. | |
| Santa Barbara County is no stranger to major fires. About 100 acres burned in a fire in 2018, according to The Los Angeles Times. The year before that, the Thomas Fire became one of the state’s largest in history. | Santa Barbara County is no stranger to major fires. About 100 acres burned in a fire in 2018, according to The Los Angeles Times. The year before that, the Thomas Fire became one of the state’s largest in history. |