Roger
New reports are coming in that the start of the fire was near a homeless camp.
John Palminteri of KEYT captured photos of the camp reporting it’s near the point of origin. There were no reported injuries and the official cause is under investigation.
Photo by John Palminteri
Update by edhat staff
A small brush fire is causing major traffic delays on Highway 101 in Goleta Friday afternoon.
At 4:53 p.m. Santa Barbara County Firefighters responded with a full brush response to an area between Los Carneros Road and Fairview Ave along Highway 101 southbound.
Crews found a brush fire burning between the freeway and railroad tracks in heavy grass.
Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni reports the fire is less than a 1/2 acre and forward progress has stopped, but it is putting up a lot of smoke.
Firefighters will be on scene for quite a while doing an extensive mop up. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Highway 101 is slowed down to one lane in the southbound section. California Highway Patrol is on scene monitoring the traffic.
Vegetation fire on Highway 101 Southbound, west of Fairview Ave. Full County Fire Department response.
5:04 PM10[24] 1039 UPRR KELSEY / TRAINS STOPPED. 5:04 PM9[23] S2 – #2 LN BLOCKED WILL ADVISE FURTHER. 5:03 PM8[21] 220 – SBSO HAS ONR AND #2 BLOCKED. 4:59 PM7[14] LN 12 FRM 217. 4:58 PM6[12] 220 HAS VISUAL OF FIRE. 4:56 PM5[7] [Appended, 16:56:54] [1] TRANS SBSO. 4:56 PM.4[9] [Appended, 16:57:03] [1] TRF SBSO / FIRE
4:55 PM.3[5] TRANS SBSO FOR FIRE. 4:55 PM2[2] [Appended, 16:55:17] [1] FIRE IN TREES OFF RS. 4:54 PM1[1] BRUSH FIRE STARTING NEAR RR TRACKS.
Homeless camp and fire personnel with a chain saw a woodchipper might come in handy too..
All effected homeless are being evacuated to State Street.
The beach would be better.
Correct usage is AFFECTED.
Smell smoke, get these homeless out..Sick of this ! Homeowners, Business Owners, unite..
I agree, this has now affected plans for the evening due to massive delays on 101 and 154. I feel sorry for the hardworking commuters who have to deal with this, from people who are just bums.
If every “Homeless” sympathizer would invite just one of these people into their homes, I think they could alleviate- or at least mollify- the problem. Yet in all my years of living, which are bordering on 70, I’ve never seen a soft-hearted idealist put their money where their mouth is.
Homeless camps and poorly maintained autos recently causing multiple brush fires. In our highly over-regulated state. Why is this happening when we can no longer even use plastic straws without risking going to jail.
If you don’t want homeless people camping out in open spaces or along highways, if you don’t want homeless people defecating and urinating in alleys, if you don’t want homeless peoples begging for money at street corners and on ramps, simply do the humane thing and provide shelter, food and sanitation for them. Goleta in particular has completely ignored any obligation or equitable concern for the homeless in their community. Once we have actually provided these things then the complaints about those that ignore resources and continue to engage in risky behaviors will be more justified.
Kind of not fair though. I work extremely hard just to be able to afford my rent and pay my bills and I can barely make it. I don’t get any help! Why should they when they don’t do anything??
How down on your luck is it to demand to be fed, clothed, housed and cared for for free in this premium coastal California location. Sounds like Lady Luck is smiling on these people. It is long past due to re-open state funded institutional care facilities that were available in the past for those clearly incapable of independent living. The rest nee to make the best decisions in their own lives and find a place they can afford to live, on their own resources.
Obligation? If you think that way you are part of the problem. Govt is not there to solve all ills. If your car needs repair which city council member do YOU call?
Welfare nation, is that what you are proposing? Opportunities are rife to avoid homelessness for those willing. Bootstrap theory.
These softhearted idealist put their money where their mouth is when they support governmental programs to provide safety nets, basic health care, education and housing to the less fortunate. This is their tax money as much as yours. At the same time your side seems only willing to spend tax money on violence, war, repression and incarceration. I choose the bleeding heart side over the bleeding bodies side.