Jesuita Fire Updates

JESUSITA FIRE Information
UPDATE: 6:25 a.m. Thursday, May 7

 Acres Burned: 500
 Date Started: May 5, 2009 at 1:50 p.m.
 Cause: Unknown
 Percent Contained: 0%
 Structures Threatened:2,000
 Homes Evacuated:5,400 homes, 16,000 people
 Structures Destroyed: Several structures have burned, however no official number has been released.
 Injuries: Three firefighters

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County as a result of the Jesusita Wildfire which has burned over 500 acres, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of over 8,000 people.

The Governor will hold a briefing/media availability regarding the Jesusita Fire at 9 a.m. in Santa Barbara.
The Jesusita Fire has over run it's perimeter and in now burning into the Mission Canyon and San Roque Canyon areas of Santa Barbara. At this time there is no containment, and multiple structures have been lost.
KEYT has received confirmed reports that homes in the Palomino Road and near the Skofield Park area
have burned.

At this time there is 0% containment and over 500 acres scorched.
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The public can call the Jesusita Call Center at 681-5197.
Residents with any information about how the fire may have started can call a fire tipline at 686-5074.

Red Cross has set up a Red Cross Shelter at Dos Pueblos High School, located at 7266 Alameda Avenue in Goleta.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department has issued the following MANDATORY evacuation order for the following areas due to the changing conditions of the Jesusita Fire.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS

•Mandatory evacuation order are reduced to an evacuation warning in the following two areas: Constance and State Street, South on State to Micheltorena, Micheltorena to Garden Street, Garden Street to Constance, Constance to State Street, and the Alamar Road area. On the east from State Street to Calle Noguera, Calle Noguera West to San Roque, San Roque South to State Street, State Street East to Alamar.

Residents may return to their homes and businesses. Please remember that an evacuation warning still exists in the area. Returning residents and business owners are cautioned to remain aware of the potential for an evacuation order on short notice.

EVACUATION WARNINGS
•The evacuation warning area has expanded and now includes: La Cumbre Road (Western boundary) to State Street, State Street to De La Vina, De La Vina to Anapamu, Anapamu to Anacapa, Anacapa South to De La Guerra, De La Guerra to Milpas, Milpas to Montecito Street, Montecito Street to Alameda Padre Serra

Road closures are in effect at:
•Mission Canyon and Tunnel Roads
•Montrose and Tunnel Roads
•Las Encinitas and Mission Canyon Roads
•Alameda Padre Serra and Los Olivos
•Mountain Drive and Mission Canyon Road
•Laguna St. at Los Olivos
•Los Olivos and Garden Street
•Foothill Road (Highway 192) and Mission Canyon Road

What do “Evacuation Warning/Advisory” and “Mandatory Evacuation Order” Mean?
Evacuation Warning/Advisory: Residents are strongly encouraged to make arrangements to leave their homes and seek shelter out of the advisory area. Evacuation

Warnings/Advisories can turn into a Mandatory Evacuation at a moment’s notice. There is no set rule as to how long a Warning/Advisory cold take. There is
always the possibility that a situation may require an immediate mandatory evacuation without an evacuation warning/advisory. Please make sure that you prepare to evacuate at a moment’s notice having your belongings ready, including pets and/or other animals. Know the routes you wish to take, by pre-planning. Information as to how to plan for an evacuation can be obtained by calling the Red Cross at (805)
450-5921. If you leave your home during an Evacuation Warning/Advisory, you may not be allowed back to your home if it turns into a Mandatory Evacuation.
Mandatory Evacutation: Evacuate your home immediately. Once a mandatory evacuation has been ordered please evacuate your home immediately.

•Once you have left your home you will not be allowed back until the danger has passed.
•Emergency vehicles will be entering the area. Obey all directions given by law enforcement and fire personnel.

Fire Status:
•At approximately 1:45 p.m. a fire began in the Cathedral Peak area. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
•The fire response is being administered by a Unified Command consisting of the Santa Barbara Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Montecito Fire, and the US Forest Service.
•A large animal evacuation center has been established at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara.
•A small animal evacuation shelter has been established by the Humane Society on Overpass Road. For more information call 681-4332.