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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 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A brush fire that started in the Santa Ynez Mountains of Santa Barbara County, Calif., had burned at least 4,262 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, 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 4,262 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, 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, the 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, the 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 afternoon, Jim Harris, the Los Padres National Forest fire chief, said at a news conference. | The fire was zero percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, Jim Harris, the Los Padres National Forest fire chief, said at a news conference. |
| The fire broke out at the end of the area’s dry season, he said, adding that “extreme” off shore winds were pushing the fire in several directions. | The fire broke out at the end of the area’s dry season, he said, adding that “extreme” off shore winds were pushing the fire in several directions. |
| Santa Barbara County has experienced several fires over the last 15 years and the area currently burning contains a lot of old vegetation, which was last burned in 1990, he said. | Santa Barbara County has experienced several fires over the last 15 years and the area currently burning contains a lot of old vegetation, which was last burned in 1990, 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. | 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. |
| The office of Governor Newsom said on Monday on Twitter that it was monitoring the fire. | The office of Governor Newsom said on Monday on Twitter that it was monitoring the fire. |
| The cause of the blaze was still unknown, Sheriff Bill Brown of the county Sheriff’s Department, said at the news conference. Evacuations will continue for some time, he said and Highway 154, which traverses the center of the evacuation zone, will remain closed. | The cause of the blaze was still unknown, Sheriff Bill Brown of the county Sheriff’s Department, said at the news conference. Evacuations will continue for some time, he said and Highway 154, which traverses the center of the evacuation zone, will remain closed. |
| More than 5,000 residents were forced to evacuate, but some people will be allowed to return home by Tuesday afternoon, he said. | More than 5,000 residents were forced to evacuate, but some people will be allowed to return home by Tuesday afternoon, he said. |
| Sections of southern Santa Barbara County were experiencing power failures because of the fire, the county said on Twitter overnight, adding that the blackouts were not related to any intentional power shut-off by utility companies. Power failures were reported overnight in unincorporated areas between Goleta and Santa Barbara, along Highway 145 through Mission Canyon and parts of Summerland and Carpinteria. | Sections of southern Santa Barbara County were experiencing power failures because of the fire, the county said on Twitter overnight, adding that the blackouts were not related to any intentional power shut-off by utility companies. Power failures were reported overnight 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. On Tuesday afternoon, University of California Santa Barbara also canceled classes for the remainder of the week. | |
| 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. |