UPDATED Fire Information
updated: Oct 17, 2012, 5:32 PM

Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office

As of 5PM this evening, the mandatory evacuation of the Painted Cave Community is lifted and residents may return upon verification of address with valid identification. Please be aware that conditions may change rapidly and residents should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

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Source: American Red Cross

The evacuation order has been lifted for those affected by the Lookout fire. Red Cross will now be closing the evacuation point located at the Wake Center located at 300 North Turnpike.

Source: Office of Emergency Management

As of 4P.M. the Lookout Fire is 45% contained. There are approximately 300 people are on the scene fighting the fire. Southern California Edison has fully restored the power.

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Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office

On October 17, 2012 at 7:46 am, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies along with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and Search and Rescue personnel, responded to a vegetation fire in the Painted Cave area near Highway 154. Members of the US Forest Service, the California Highway Patrol, Montecito Fire Department, and the Santa Barbara City Fire Department also responded.

As the Fire spread throughout the morning, Search and Rescue crews along with Sheriffs Deputies went door to door evacuating residents in the Painted Cave community. At approximately 8:48am, a reverse 911 call was sent out to notify residents of the fire and the mandatory evacuation order. About 100 homes were threatened and the evacuations were completed several hours later.

The Painted Cave area is still under a mandatory evacuation order at this time. The Trout Club and Hidden Valley communities are under an evacuation warning only. The Santa Barbara Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at 300 north Turnpike Rd. (SBCC Wake Center) for people who are seeking shelter as a result of this fire.

The Evacuated areas will be aggressively patrolled by Sheriff's Deputies during this mandatory evacuation order. Those who are found without lawful purpose in the evacuated areas are subject to citation or arrest per California Penal Code 409.5(c) Willfully entering an area that is closed due to a Fire.

Source: Office of Emergency Management

UPDATE: at 2:28 p.m. This incident remains at the incident level. The EOC has NOT been activated. Approx. 40 structures have been evacuated with another 60 structures at risk. A shelter has been opened on North Turnpike and large animals are being accepted at Earl Warren Showgrounds.

The fire is 10% contained and approximately 25 +/- acres. Retardant dropped around 50%. Winds are calm at this time.

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The The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District today issued an Air Quality Watch for Southern and Central Santa Barbara County to be in effect until Thursday morning. Air quality may be poor in some areas due to smoke and ash from the Lookout Fire, which is currently burning in the Los Padres National Forest near Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road.

If you see or smell smoke in the air where you are, be cautious and use common sense to protect your family’s health. Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children, should limit time spent outdoors, and avoid outdoor exercise when high concentrations of dust and particles are in the air. If you have symptoms of lung or heart disease that may be related to exposure to particles, including repeated coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness, contact your health care provider.

Levels of smoke and particles will depend on changes in winds, and the movement of the fire. This Air Quality Watch is in effect until Thursday morning and may be extended as conditions warrant.

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Advisory: #Lookout Fire: Human Shelter @Wake Center N. Turnpike. Animals @ Earl Warren Red Cross Shelter open at Wake Center - North Turnpike. Large Animals at Earl Warren Showgrounds

INFORMATION at 11:34 am : Advisory: #Lookout +/- 20 acres Aggressive attack continues Light winds @ this time.

INFORMATION at 11:22 am: Advisory: Stay out of 154 Area! Air attack continues. Growth remains SLOW. Breezy condition potential afternoon. #Lookout. Strong attack continues. Appears that aggressive firefighter attack has helped. Breezy conditions this afternoon. Resources continue attack. Optimistic.

Advisory: Lookout fire continues. Highway 154 reopened. Primary concern is increasing afternoon winds.

The Lookout fire continues to burn. The acreage remains at approximately 15 acres. Highway 154 has been reopened. The primary concern is the potential for increasing winds as the day progresses. More information will be posted as it is received.

Advisory: Lookout Update: Direct fire drops ongoing. Slow growth continues.

Helicopter and fixed wing aircraft being used. Structure protection underway. Incident Command has been unified with US Forest Service. EOC on stand-by NOT activated at this time.

	History of Advisory Messages from the Office of Emergency Management and Montecito Fire Protection regarding the current fire near Painted Cave, now called the Lookout Fire. (10/18/12)	2097	add
	Both directions of Hwy. 154 have re-opened but COUNTY ROADS in the area including Painted Cave REMAIN CLOSED just north of Santa Barbara in the San Marcos Pass area. (10/18/12)	1131	3

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