Cave Fire Now 100% Contained

Update by edhat staff

8:00 a.m., December 15, 2019

 

Los Padres National Forest officials announced Saturday the Cave Fire is 100 percent contained. The Cave Fire began November 25 and burned a total of 3,126 acres.

There were no residences damaged or injuries to firefighters.

Los Padres National Forest officials issued a statement thanking local fire cooperators for their support and shared commitment to protecting our communities.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Update by edhat staff

11:00 a.m., December 4, 2019

 

The recent rainstorms have hampered firefighting efforts of the Cave Fire and the containment remains at 90%.

Officials initially announced they planned to have the Cave Fire 100% contained by Wednesday, December 4, unless rainfall affected their progress. The acreage remains at 3,126 acres.

County Fire Department spokesperson Mike Eliason reports rain has hampered efforts in reaching remote and rugged terrain to complete containment line.  Therefore, full containment will be another week, December 13 or slightly sooner.

In the meantime, Caltrans is working to clear clogged drainage culverts on Highway 154 Wednesday morning following a brief but intense rainfall in the recent burn area.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution and slow down while driving through the area recently charred in the Cave Fire.

Photo: Mike Eliason / SBCFD

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Update by edhat staff

7:30 a.m., December 1, 2019

 

The Cave Fire is now 90% contained with 54 personnel assigned and working the incident. 

Los Padres National Forest Firefighters are working to extinguish stubborn “smokes” in an unburned portion of the Cave Fire with thick brush. Additional smoke might still be visible for a period of time.

Los Padres National Forest FF’s work to extinguish stubborn “smokes” in an unburned portion of the #CaveFire. Remember that additional smokes might still be visible for a period of time. Note how thick the brush is that they are working in.@EliasonMike pic.twitter.com/me2Xo6EC6U

— Daniel Bertucelli (@SBCFireInfo) December 1, 2019

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Update by edhat staff

10:15 a.m., November 30, 2019

 

The Cave Fire is 85% contained with full containment expected by Wednesday if rain doesn't hamper firefighting efforts.

Mike Eliason with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department reports the 85% containment will reach 100% by December 4. If the rain affects the burn area, full containment is scheduled by December 13.

Caltrans hopes to have Highway 154 open by Monday. There are 50 firefighters on the scene continuing to mop up.

Photo: Mike Eliason / SBCFD

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Update by edhat staff

8:00 p.m., November 28, 2019

The Cave Fire is 40% contained at a revised 3,126 acres due to updated GPS and mapping.

Approximately 300 firefighters will stay assigned and committed to the fire to continue to increase containment.

Snow has fallen at the 3,500 foot level on the fire footprint atop E. Camino Cielo early Thanksgiving morning.  A light dusting atop used fire hose & on charred chaparral is a rare sight for the Santa Barbara South Coast, reports Mike Eliason.

The Los Padres National Forest along with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department would like to remind the public, that as containment efforts continue, the public might see light smoke and smoldering materials in the interior portions of the fire perimeter.

"We would like to reassure the community that we are aware of those issues and have approximately 300 firefighters assigned to the Cave Fire to address any issues that may arise," reports Captain Daniel Bertucelli.

#CaveFire- UPDATE- Snow falling at the 3,500 foot level on the fire footprint atop E. Camino Cielo Thanksgiving morning. A light dusting atop used fire hose & on charred chaparral is a rare sight for the Santa Barbara South Coast. pic.twitter.com/gwae0Fw9I1

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) November 28, 2019

#CaveFire- UPDATE- Snow has fallen at the 3,500 foot level on the fire footprint atop E. Camino Cielo early Thanksgiving morning. A light dusting atop used fire hose & on charred chaparral is a rare sight for the Santa Barbara South Coast. pic.twitter.com/xpDaCrOzPM

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) November 28, 2019

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, in consultation with fire agencies and other public safety officials, has announced that Evacuation Orders and Debris Flow Evacuation Warnings are lifted for all areas in Santa Barbara County. Residents are advised to stay alert to their surroundings and changing conditions.

Hwy 154 from Cathedral Oaks Road/Hwy 192 to Painted Cave Road will remain closed other than to residents of Hwy 154.  East Camino Cielo Road from Painted Cave Road to Gibraltar Road is closed due to continued fire rehabilitation work in the area.

The evacuation center at Goleta Valley Community Center will close. For questions concerning animal sheltering, please call (805) 681-4332. 

The Emergency Operations Center and Call Center will close at 1 p.m. today.  Evacuated residents returning home who have a need for wheelchair or other specialized transport should contact their routine paratransit provider.

Photo: Mike Eliason

Officials report the rain helped firefighting efforts and the evacuations should be lifted on Wednesday.

At 11:30 p.m. Tuesday officials removed evacuation warning for the area North of Foothill Road between Ontare and Gibraltar Road. Santa Barbara County Public Works reported the San Roque and San Antonio basins on Wednesday morning. 

The Cave Fire areas received up to an inch of rain in the past 24 hours which significantly helped firefighters battle the blaze. Mike Eliason with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department reports 20% containment of the fire is expected to grow significantly today. The total acreage is 4,367.

Firefighters will remain on scene to extinguish "stubborn smoke" as resources begin demobilization today. Incident Command is reporting good progress on the fire fight with repopulation plans to be evaluated as all evacuees should be in their homes later today in time for Thanksgiving, reports Eliason.

Rain is still forecasted and the colder overnight storm could actually bring a slight chance of snow near the higher elevation of the fire, if you could believe that.

Evacuations

Mandatory Evacuations

• Evacuation order boundaries expanded from Ontare Road to Patterson Ave. north of Cathedral Oaks, south of Camino Cielo.

Evacuation Warning

• West of Hwy 154 to El Sueno, below Cathedral Oaks to Calle Real.
• Patterson Avenue/Anderson Lane and Ontare Road, between the 3500 and 3300 block of State Street and down through Las Positas Road, and south of East Camino Cielo to the ocean. 

Road Closures

• Highway 154 from SR-246 to SR-192/Foothill Road
• Gibraltar Road
• La Vista Road at Foothill Road
• Debra Drive at Antone Road
• Via Chaparral at Cathedral Oaks
• San Marcos Road at Cathedral Oaks

Power Outages

Parts of southern Santa Barbara County are experiencing power outages due to impacts from the Cave Fire.  This outage is not related to a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Outages have been reported in unincorporated areas between the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara, along Highway 154 through Mission Canyon, and parts of Summerland and Carpinteria.

The SCE Outage Map can be viewed here.

Shelter

Goleta Valley Community Center
5679 Hollister Road. Goleta

Animal Sheltering: For Assistance, call Hotline: 805-681-4332

Small Animals:
Goleta Animal Shelter, 5473 Overpass Rd.
Large Animals:
Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara

Emergency Contact Numbers

• Emergency Call Center: (833) 688-5551
• 211 or outside (805) area code, call (800)  400-1572
• Animal Evacuation Assistance: (805) 681-4332
• Southern California Edison: 1-800-611-1911

Do NOT call 911 unless there is an emergency

Rain is anticipated Tuesday evening after midnight and will hopefully aid firefighting efforts. The approaching front will continue erratic gusty north winds in the fire area through tonight with peak gusts of winds up to 40 mph. Humidity is relatively low near 15% and expected to improve later tonight.

 

Map of Cave Fire footprint (Photo: Mike Eliason)

A section of mandatory evacuations has been reduced for the Cave Fire that's now reached 4,262 acres. It's at 0% containment and there are no reported injuries. One outbuilding has been destroyed but no residences have been affected.

Officials held a press conference at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday and stated the current firefighting conditions are the "toughest in the world" due to low humidity, several extreme wind events, and dry fuel. The fire crossed over Highway 154 in several places and the roadway remains closed.

However, the mandatory evacuations have been reduced from Fairview to Patterson Ave on the western boundary. The evacuation will be lifted by noon and residents are welcome to return home in this area, although some sections are without power as requested by firefighters.

The rest of the evacuations will stay put for some time, said Sheriff Bill Brown. Approximately 5,481 people evacuated on Tuesday with 324 people staying in their home.

Rain is expected to reach Santa Barbara on Tuesday evening and should help diminish the fire, although officials are concerned about it creating hazards for the firefighters and potentially small rockslides on Highway 154. Officials do not feel the amount of rain expected will cause a mudslide.

The Cave Fire has reached 4,100 acres and is 0% contained as of Tuesday morning.

There are 600 firefighters on the scene and no reported injuries or structures damaged. The evacuation orders remain the same from Monday evening, according to Mike Eliason of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

At 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Santa Barbara County proclaimed a local emergency. Read the emergency proclamation here.

A press conference will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday to discuss ongoing firefighter efforts.

An evacuation warning has been issued for the areas from Highway 154 to El Sueno and Cathedral Oaks to Calle Real, according to the Sheriff's Office. An additional Evacuation Warnings is being issued for the area North of Foothill Road and Ontare to Gibraltar Road.

Due to changing conditions of the fire, the Evacuation ORDER is now from Highway 154 to Fairview, and Highway 154 to Ontare, north of Cathedral Oaks Road. The evacuation map can be viewed here.

As of 9:30 p.m., the estimated acres burned is reportedly over 3,100 acres.

Roadways remained closed in the area.

Mandatory evacuations have been extended to north of Cathedral Oaks between Highway 154 and Patterson Ave.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office just announced the evacuation at 6:55 p.m. Monday. 

The first mandatory evacuation order still stands, from Painted Cave to Camino Cielo and Highway 154 east to Ontare Road. 

A second fire is burning near the Cave Fire has reportedly jumped the Windy Gap. Early reports indicate the fire began around 6:25 p.m. near 1960 N. San Marcos Road. It's being reported this second fire has reached Highway 154 and jumped the Windy Gap and is burning above the Bridge to Nowhere.

CHP is reporting a large group of cars and bystanders are blocking the roadway for emergency personnel and evacuees. If you do not need to be in the area, stay away.

An evacuation map can be found here.

Shelter Location:
Goleta Valley Community Center
5679 Hollister Road. Goleta

Animal Sheltering: For Assistance, call Hotline: 805-681-4332

Small Animals:
Goleta Animal Shelter, 5473 Overpass Rd.
Large Animals:
Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for the Painted Cave community as a 15-acre brush fire, named the Cave Fire, grows.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Los Padres National Forest Fire Department, and Montecito Fire Department are on scene near Painted Cave and E. Camino Cielo. Crews are battling a wind-driven fire that sparked around 4:13 p.m. Monday.

Strong wind is in the forecast tonight and it's encouraged that residents are vigilant and aware of what is happening. Evacuation orders can quickly change.  

California Highway Patrol have closed Highway 154 at SR-246 and Foothill Road as well as Cathedral Oaks at S San Marcos Rd.

#CaveFire- Burning in the Los Padres NF on E. Camino Cielo near Painted Cave. pic.twitter.com/Ar0uHEGF3c

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) November 26, 2019

Update by Office of Emergency Management
5:42 p.m., November 25, 2019

Due to the fire in the Panted Cave area, an Evacuation order is issued for the area between Highway 154 and Ontare, and below East Camino Cielo and Foothill road. more information will follow as it becomes available.

Debido al incendio en el área de Painted Cave, se emitio una orden de evacuación para el área entre la Carretera 154 y Ontare, y debajo de la East Camino Cielo y Foothill Rd. Más información se proporcionará cuando esté disponible.

#CaveFire- Burning in the Los Padres NF on E. Camino Cielo near Painted Cave. pic.twitter.com/gOr9uS0Swa

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) November 26, 2019

Brush fire off Camino De Cielo at Painted Cave. SB County Fire Department sending a full response.

Photos by edhat readers

2:43am from Painted Cave (Photos: Lynn)

Cathedral Oaks from Highway 154 (Photos: John Wiley)

Photos by Patti Gutshall

Photos by Christian Puga

Upper State Street by Beverly Cross

View from the Turnpike shopping center

Taken along Calle Real near iHop. Nov. 26th;  12:30 p.m. (By Chuck Cagara)