Foothill Fire Grows to 462 Acres, 10% Contained; Evacuation Orders Remain in Cuyama Valley

Firefighters continued suppression efforts Wednesday morning on the Foothill Fire, which is now estimated at 462 acres with 10% containment, according to a 7:00 a.m. May 20 update from Santa Barbara County Fire. Approximately 200 personnel are assigned.

Crews are focused on strengthening containment lines, improving access in steep terrain, and reinforcing open fire edges. Weather remains warm with potential for shifting winds this afternoon, and firefighters are prepared for changing conditions.

Road closures and evacuation zones remain in place; the public is urged to avoid the area to allow safe access for emergency equipment.

Foothill Fire: Pictures and Videos of the incident pic.twitter.com/6uNDGxKgc8

— PIO (@PIOSBCFireInfo) May 20, 2026

Current evacuations (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office):

• Evacuation Order — Leave immediately:
  • Area north of Castro Canyon, east of Perkins Road, and west of the Cuyama River
  • Area south of the Cuyama Valley, north of Big Pine Mountain, and west of the Cuyama River/Highway 33
• Evacuation Warning — Be ready to leave:
  • Area south of Foothill Road at the County Line, east of the Cuyama River, and west of Quatal Canyon
• Emergency map: www.ReadySBC.org/emergency
• For sheltering support, call the Red Cross at 805-678-3073
• Help keep emergency lines open; call 911 only for emergencies

Road closures

• Previously reported closures include: Bell Street at Highway 166; Kirschenmann at Highway 166; and Foothill at Highway 33. Authorities say closures remain in effect; check ReadySBC and official channels for updates.

What happened Tuesday

• The fire, reported around 4:03 p.m. May 19 near Foothill Road and Kirschenmann Road, prompted second-alarm resources and immediate evacuation orders for the Castro Canyon area.
• By about 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office expanded evacuation orders to include areas southeast of Perkins Road to Maudie Peak.
• As of 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, County Fire reported the incident at 250 acres with one structure destroyed; no injuries were reported.

Residents in and near the affected areas should monitor ReadySBC for the latest evacuation and road closure information and avoid the fire area. This is a developing incident.