Forward Progress Stopped in Highway 154 Brush Fire

Photos: Santa Barbara County Fire Department

Update by edhat staff
11:00 a.m., March 10, 2020
 
Highway 154 is now open in both directions

Update by edhat staff

7:45 p.m., March 9, 2020
 

The evacuation warnings have been lifted after firefighters gain headway against the brush fire near Painted Cave off Highway 154.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department state the forward progress of the Cielo Fire has been stopped at 5 to 6 acres. 

Crews will remain on scene through the night mopping up and the latest update of information will be released tomorrow morning. The traffic restrictions are still in place.

 


Update by edhat staff

6:00 p.m., March 9, 2020
 

Santa Barbara County firefighters are responding to a working brush fire off Highway 154 and W. Camino Cielo.

An evacuation warning has been issued for E. Camino Cielo Rd, East of Hwy 154., and the Painted Cave community.

There is no official acreage but it was initially estimated to be around 15 acres and moving uphill on the north slope. SBCFD has confirmed it is now estimated to be around 5 acres. There are currently five structures threatened in the area.

Highway 154 has been closed in both directions at Paradise Road and Cathedral Oaks. 

Initial reports from the California Highway Patrol state a small brush fire was seen along the northside of the Highway 154 roadway near Painted Cave. Smoke was seen from Highway 101 as the fire began to grow. 

Ground crews and a helicopter from the county fire department are on the scene. 

More information will be added when it becomes available.


Reported by Roger the Scanner Guy
4:35 p.m., March 9, 2020
 

Vegetation fire off Highway 154 at Painted Cave. Early reports state it’s on the northside of Painted Cave.

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Written by Roger

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  1. I expected to see a specific thread about today’s emergency notices. Appalling. Irredeemably poor performance by Sheriff’s Dept. Embarrassing, clear example of incompetence. Unacceptable. Shall I add piss-poor? Yeah, I’m angry about it.
    ———————————————————————————————————————–
    I came home after 6:00 p.m. Monday to see a Nixle notice in my e-mail. Expected it to be from PHD re: Covid-19. What I read was — EMPTY! Zero text after the salutation. When I clicked on “For full details, view this message on the web” the screen remained empty. Not even a notification that there was a fire!
    Good thing I know enough Spanish to have understood the same Nixle notice in that language. ———————-paragraph break——————————————————–
    Appalling. After all the total eff-ups re: noticing including and since the debris flow?! I’ve been shaking my head about it since.
    ———————-paragraph break——————————————————–
    Many Sheriff Department social media emergency warnings are incompetent. Think about that statement. It’s unacceptable and demands action and remediation. I’m angry in part because of the chances I’ve given them! I voted against Brown in 2018.
    At least make your voice heard; let the County Board of Supervisors know what you think of this. But only an election will affect Sheriff Brown.
    I’ve worked in public health and in clinics and hospitals. I have some idea beyond being an annoyed consumer. l know Sheriff’s office is fighting for validity after the Montecito debris flow.
    ———————-paragraph break——————————————————–
    They screwed up today **big time.** I will call and write them to let them know. And I have voted against Brown.

  2. I posted the rant about Sheriff’s notifications below. This is what I received (with line breaks): “Advisory: Message from Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office:
    Dear John Smith,
    .
    For full details, view this message on the web.”
    ———————————————————————————————————-
    Yeah, the text was a PERIOD. Just what we, and any little kid, does to try to cover up a bad post/message/email. I expect more from our emergency notification system. I could read the Spanish notice, which included written info, sent at 5:58. I urge everyone to read all notices as it’s not hard to glean the meaning from a language you may not know. ———————————————————–
    Try it:
    “Debido al Incendio Camino, una ADVERTENCIA DE EVACUACION esta en efecto para el area inmediata desde la Carretera 154 hasta East Camino Cielo, Painted Cave y Old San Marcos Pass. Por favor mantengase alerta ya que las condiciones pueden cambiar en cualquier momento.”
    I was so relieved to receive the following notice at 7:50. Everyone should read every message to get info, many of us could figure out the content merely through cognates. ” La Advertencia de Evacuacion para el Incendio Camino en la Carretera 154 ha sido eliminada = “evacuation 154 eliminated.” Jerks.

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