Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria

Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria title=
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Update by Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District
11:00 a.m., February 20, 2022

ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO STORM DRAIN FIRES IN CARPINTERIA

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District is currently investigating fires that broke out in the storm drain system beneath Highway 101 and the 5700 block of Via Real on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 19 and early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 20.

Carpinteria-Summerland firefighters were out picking up dinner Saturday evening when they noticed smoke, called it into the South Coast Dispatch Center and responded to the scene at approximately 5:55 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and flames coming from two manhole covers and another opening under a bridge along Highway 101 between Bailard and Casitas Pass Rd, as well as along the 5700 block of Via Real.

Southern California Gas was called to the scene and determined no gas lines were involved in the incident.

Carpinteria Sanitary District also responded to investigate whether a broken sewer line could be the source of the fire but that was also ruled out.

Due to firefighting efforts and safety concerns, Highway 101 northbound was shut down at approximately 6:30 p.m. from Bailard to Casitas Pass Rd. The 5700 block of Via Real was also closed to traffic.

The storm drain where the fire occurred is lined with a thick plastic material which caused the fire to continue burning with intensity for several hours. Firefighters were able to gain control and extinguish the flames by 7:45 p.m. Saturday by pumping large quantities of water into the storm drain.

Fire officials coordinated with Caltrans and CHP reopen the northbound lanes of Highway 101 by 9:20 p.m. Saturday. However, Via Real remained closed.

During the first incident, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire was assisted by Montecito Fire Department, Santa Barbara City Fire Department and Ventura County Fire Department. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers also responded to the scene to assist with traffic control.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday, local road construction workers reported seeing smoke coming from the storm drain system in the same area.

The closure of Highway 101 northbound from Bailard to Casitas Pass Rd was reissued to allow for emergency operations at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Carpinteria-Summerland firefighters responded to the scene and requested Montecito Fire’s engine that is specially equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS). Firefighters sprayed the foam into the storm drain to eliminate the fire’s oxygen source and successfully extinguish it.

As a result of this firefighting tactic, foam entered Carpinteria Creek. Environmentalists from the City of Carpinteria and a Santa Barbara County Hazmat inspector determined that the firefighting foam material is an allowable discharge under the State Water Board’s regulations. It is expected to dissipate naturally.

By 5 a.m. Sunday, the closure of Highway 101 northbound was lifted.

The 5700 block of Via Real will be closed until a safety assessment in completed. At this time, community members are asked to please abide by the closure due to potential safety issues along that stretch of road.

Both fires are currently being investigated by Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District. Updates will be provided as they become available.

This incident update was compiled by the Montecito Fire public information office, in coordination with the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District. For media questions, please contact Montecito Fire Public Information Officer Christina Favuzzi at 805-680-5526 or cfavuzzi@montecitofire.com or Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Chief Greg Fish at 818-355-8471 or g.fish@csfd.net.

Update by Montecito Fire Department
5:00 a.m., February 20, 2022

UPDATE 5AM: The northbound lanes of Highway 101 from Bailard to Casitas Pass are open again. The 5700 block of Via Real remains closed. @CSFPD firefighters will stay at the scene to monitor the situation. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated.

Update by Montecito Fire Department
2:50 a.m., February 20, 2022

Highway 101 NB is CLOSED from Bailard to Casitas Pass due to smoke coming from manhole covers. This is the same location as Saturday evening’s incident. Firefighters from @CSFPD and Montecito Fire are on scene, along with @CaltransD5 & CHP. Updates to follow.

Update by Montecito Fire Department
9:19 p.m., February 19, 2022

UPDATE: NB lanes of Highway 101 are back open.  5700 hundred block of Via Real remains closed to traffic for emergency operations. Please drive safely through the area.

Update by Montecito Fire Department
8:30 p.m., February 19, 2022

FFs are investigating the cause of the fire that broke out in a storm drain under Hwy 101 this evening in the Carpinteria area. NB lanes closed until at least 9:30pm. On behalf of all involved agencies, we appreciate your patience as we work to secure the scene & reopen the hwy.

FFs are investigating the cause of the fire that broke out in a storm drain under Hwy 101 this evening in the Carpinteria area. NB lanes closed until at least 9:30pm. On behalf of all involved agencies, we appreciate your patience as we work to secure the scene & reopen the hwy. pic.twitter.com/N5XhzVkWc9

— Montecito Fire (@montecitofire) February 20, 2022

 

Update by Montecito Fire Department
8:00 p.m., February 19, 2022

UPDATE: Hwy 101 thru Carp to remain closed until at least 9:30PM due to fire in storm drain under the highway. Fire was extinguished by 7:45 p.m. but investigation into the cause is still in progress. Montecito Fire assisting  @CSFPD  along with @VCFD, @sbsheriff & @CHP_SantaBarb

Update by Montecito Fire Department
6:30 p.m., February 19, 2022

FIRE: Montecito Firefighters are assisting @CSFPD with a fire burning beneath a bridge along Highway 101 northbound through Carpinteria. Highway 101 northbound is closed in the area. Fire reported at 5:55 p.m. in the 5700 block of Via Real, Carpinteria.

Reported by Scanner Andrew
6:00 p.m., February 19, 2022

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire are on scene of a fire from possibly a gas pipe in the 5700 block of Via Real in Carpinteria

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Cadillackid
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Feb 19, 2022 06:13 PM
Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria

Is this the manhole right near the freeway entrance by the 3 gas stations? I’ve seen that there has been problems in the past at that location, and also have gotten a very bad smell of H2S. Several times I’ve seen city workers cleaning that manhole

a-1645333802
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Feb 19, 2022 09:10 PM
Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria

Just read about this elsewhere and looked at the CHP page. Looks like the biggest cluster-* in traffic that I've ever seen in our area. Well, not counting mudslides shutting 101. Wow.
Seems to be some miscommunications between agencies, along with some spread of fire. Interesting.
https://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx

a-1645334128
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Feb 19, 2022 09:15 PM
Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria

8:47 PM - PER ADDTL SMOKE COMING FRM UNDER FWY// RP DOES FEEL SAFE WHERE SHE IS NB JNO BAILARD BRIDGE IN SLO LN
9:07 - FIRE WILL PUT CAMERA INTO TE PIPE // WILL ADVS IF THEY CAN OPEN A COUPLE OF LNS
9:09 - CLOSURE IS NB FRM 150 TO CASITAS PASS // VIA REAL BLKED AND TRFC DIVERTING SB // GRANITE IS 97 AT THE SCENE // STILL UNK ETA TO OPEN

a-1645358890
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Feb 20, 2022 04:08 AM
Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria

4:01 AM 14 [28] 1039 ENTAC
4:00 AM 13 [27] C29-201 NOTIFY ENTAC OF THE CLOSURE
2:31 AM 12 [21] 1039 SBSO
2:29 AM 11 [20] C29-401 NB LNS SHUT
2:19 AM 10 [19] WHEN CT SUP CONTACT MADE CONTACT MONT FIRE TO LINK W/ INCIDENT COMMAND
2:12 AM 9 [15] C29-401 REQ CT FOR CLOSURE
2:11 AM 8 [14] C29-401 FIRE REQ SHUT DOWN NB LNS / SB OPEN // ENRT TO DIVERT TRFC TOWARDS BAILORD / FIRE ADVSD CLOSURE POSS A FEW HRS UNK DURATION
2:04 AM 7 [12] [Notification] [CHP]-MONT FIRE LL REQ CT SUPERVISOR [Shared]
1:50 AM 6 [11] C29-401 FIRE HAS NB TO CP OFR SHUT DOWN // ADVSING MIGHT NEED TO SHUT DOWN FWY AGAIN
1:43 AM 5 [10] MONT FIRE LL POSS RE IGNITION // REQ CHP
1:37 AM 4 [6] PER ADDTL SB JSO BAILARD BLK SMOKE COMING OO GROUND// ODOR IN AREA TRANS MONT FIRE
1:28 AM 3 [4] TRANS MONT FIRE
1:28 AM 2 [3] SMOKE GETTING DRK
1:28 AM 1 [2] SMOKE COMING FRM VENT IN CD

a-1645406102
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Feb 20, 2022 05:15 PM
Highway 101 Closes Off and On For Storm Drain Fire Near Carpinteria

Oh no no no, I am shocked they chose to use firefighting foam in a pipe that flows to natural waterways!! Firefighting foam contains PFAS, aka "forever" chemicals that never break down and is a major source of environmental (and human!) harm. It is extremely nasty, cancer-causing stuff. Once it gets into natural aquifers and wells, that is it, they are contaminated FOREVER. It was only an approved discharge due to the emergency situation, even then I wish someone would have thought more about the implications and the true level of "emergency"...I hope they will not repeat this treatment and will go the water route again if it flares up. These chemicals are the worst of the worst.

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