Extreme heat keeps fire going strong

Mandatory evacuations expand west to Turnpike

By DAILY SOUND STAFF -- May 8, 2009

2:45 a.m. update: A general weakening of winds and decreasing temperatures are making life a little easier for firefighters battling the out-of-control Jesusita Fire. High wind warnings remain in effect until 9 a.m. this morning.

A press conference is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. this morning. More information will be available then.

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1:50 a.m. update: Santa Barbara City Fire Battalion Chief Pat McElroy says that no homes have burned in the Calle Laureles, Lucinda Road and San Roque area. Structures on upper San Roque Road are burning. The evacuation area is expanding west toward Goleta. Fire officials once said the fire was 10 percent contained, but now can't confirm containment of any kind. "I can't even speculate (on the containment), it would be irresponsible for me to even go there," McElroy said.

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1:21 a.m. update: New Mandatory evacuation warnings have now been issued, the new boundaries are Turnpike (western boundary) north of US Highway 101,  along US Highway 101 to State Street and Calle Real Intersection, east along State Street to Constance Avenue, Constance Avenue to Garden Street, Garden Street to Micheltorena Street, Micheltorena Street north to the end of the road, extending to Alameda Padre Serra, Alameda Padre Serra, east to Sycamore Canyon Road (eastern boundary), north on Sycamore Canyon Road to Highway 192 (Stanwood Drive) to El Cielito.

Evacuation warnings have also expanded to Fairview Avenue (western boundary), from Fairview Avenue and US Highway 101 east along Highway 101 to Turnpike Road north along Turnpike Road to Cathedral Oaks Road (northern boundary).

•    AND areas in the City of Santa Barbara south of the Mandatory evacuation area north of State Street from San Roque Road to De La Vina Street, De La Vina Street, to Anapamu Street, Anapamu Street to Anacapa Street, Anacapa Street south to De La Guerra Street, De La Guerra Street to Milpas Street, Milpas Street south to Quinientos Street, Quinientos Street to Clifton Street to Eucalyptus Hill Road, Eucalyptus Hill Road to Barker Pass Road, Barker Pass Road to Highway 192 (Sycamore Canyon Road), Highway 192 (Sycamore Canyon Road) west to Stanwood Drive.

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1:17 a.m. update: KEYT is reporting the fire has approached Foothill Road and firefighters are working hard to make sure it doesn't cross the highway. Calm winds are making this possible. Firefighters are working tirelessly to protect as many structures as possible.

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1:10 a.m. update: The Santa Barbara County Emergency Opperation Center is now being evacuated.

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12:32 a.m. update: Radio traffic has slowed and television footage shows what appears to be somewhat-reduced fire activity near Highway 154.

All residents under mandatory evacuation orders or warnings should heed the advice of fire officials, who have repeatedly stated that those who feel threatened should leave immediately.

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12:19 a.m. update: Fire officials announced a new evacuation area for residents north of Highway 101 from Turnpike Road west to Fairview Avenue, extending north along Fairview Avenue up to West Camino Cielo, including homes along West Camino Cielo. Residents are being advised to prepare to evacuate.

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12:14 a.m. update: Firefighters could be heard planning to look for spot fires south of Foothill Road near Vista de la Cumbre and E. Alamar Avenue.

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12:11 a.m. update: Reports of a spot fire in the 1700 block of Overlook Lane appear to be unfounded. Firefighters reported finding nothing in that area, according to radio traffic.

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12:05 a.m. update: Flames are no longer visible along the eastern flank of the fire from the Daily Sound offices on E. Canon Perdido Street, suggesting that winds may be calming in that area.

Recent radio traffic indicates there may be a spot fire in the 2900 block of Kenmore Place near Ben Lomand Drive.

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12:01 a.m. update: Firefighters are running hose lines behind a home at the corner of San Roque and Foothill Road to deal with a spot fire that appears to be making a run along the slope, according to emergency radio traffic. Reports indicate they believe they will be able to handle it.

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11:54 p.m. update: Radio traffic indicates winds may be shifting to come out of the north near Highway 154. Firefighters could be heard reporting that flames had jumped the highway, but had stalled and crews were hitting it hard.

Crews also were responding to reports of a spot fire in the 1700 block of Overlook Lane, an area between Alameda Padre Serra and Eucalyptus Hill Road, although those reports are unconfirmed.

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11:51 p.m. update: Firefighters on San Roque Road near the Cater Water Treatment Plant reported seeing fire in trees to the west and above Laurel Canyon, according to emergency radio traffic.

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11:41 p.m. update: Flames are still visible on the far eastern flank from downtown Santa Barbara, although the active fire is not nearly as explosive as the western and southwestern regions. It's unclear exactly where those flames to the east are located, but they appear to be relatively high in the foothills.

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11:21 p.m. update: Along the southern front of the fire, the blaze is being pushed by high winds, has jumped San Roque Road and is moving southeast toward Lucinda Lane, south of Lauro Reservoir, according to emergency radio traffic. Crews are staging along Foothill Road near Laurel Canyon Road.

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11:17 p.m. update: The mandatory evacuation area includes areas north of La Colina Road west to Highway 154, extending north of Cathedral Oaks Road west to Patterson Avenue, north to San Jose Creek and continuing up to Camino Cielo.

“This is the same area we experienced problems with in the Painted Cave Fire and the Gap Fire,” Sheriff Bill Brown said during a hastily organized press conference. “There are concerns with the wind conditions that the fire may come down through that area again.”

Brown said flames have jumped Highway 154 and are moving into that new mandatory evacuation area. More than 7,300 property parcels are in that area, he said, meaning an estimated 18,000 people are under evacuation orders.

Authorities have requested an additional 100 law enforcement units to handle evacuations through the regional mutual aid system. A new Red Cross shelter at the UCSB Multi-Activities Center on Mesa Road has been established with a capacity of 900 people.

The Thunderdome on campus is also being made available for anyone with special needs, such as medical issues or other concerns.

“People need to recognize that these evacuation orders are not being issued with anything but the greatest sense of urgency,” Brown said, adding that anyone west or south of the mandatory evacuation areas should also be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, including those in the Hope Ranch area and Goleta west of Patterson Avenue.

“Everyone in our community needs to be involved in this emergency,” he said. “We all need to pull together now to get through this significant challenge that faces us.”

Residents should cooperate with authorities and do so in a quick and orderly fashion, he said. That includes opening homes to friends and relatives who are being evacuated, conserving water and avoiding areas where firefighters are working.

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11:14 p.m. update: In a last-minute news conference, Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Tom Franklin said the Jesusita Fire is quickly marching west, and suggested it might not stop until reaching the Gap Fire burn area.

“Part of the problem we’re facing is very heavy fuel and inaccessible country,” he said. “Right now we’re working with Mother Nature and she’s pushing it west.”

Franklin said the fire is “deadly,” adding, “We’ve had a lot of injuries. We don’t want to count you as one of the victims of this fire.”

Franklin said the fire exploded out of control after winds started blowing laterally along the mountainside at the 800-foot level.

He said additional firefighting resources have been ordered, but fears if the blaze drags on much longer, resources will tire.

“We’re running pretty thin on equipment right now,” he said.

He urged everyone in the evacuation order area, which now stretches north of Cathedral Oaks Road and all homes west to Patterson Avenue, to evacuate as soon as possible.

He said anyone under an evacuation order must leave their homes.

“If you’re anywhere near the fire and you can get out, just make that decision to leave early,” he said.

It is unclear how the Santa Barbara County Jail, which is located within the new evacuation order area, as well as the county’s emergency operations center, will be impacted by the evacuations.

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10:52 p.m. update: Emergency radio traffic suggests that firefighters are planning to make a stand in Laurel Canyon, an area along San Roque Road near Lauro Reservoir.

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10:43 p.m. update: A large flare-up is visible from the Daily Sound offices on E. Canon Perdido Street burning on the eastern flank of the fire, although it's unclear in which area exactly it is burning.

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10:42 p.m. update: Authorities have reportedly issued an mandatory evacuation order for all homes north of Cathedral Oaks, west to Patterson Avenue.

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10:33 p.m. update: Firefighters pulled back from upper La Vista Road as flames made it too dangerous to remain in that area, County Fire Capt. David Sadecki said during a television interview.

"There are structures lost on La Vista," he said. "...This fire is moving very qucikly. The fire appears to be moving in a westerly direction toward Highway 154. It's spotting out in front, I'd say at least a quarter of a mile out in front."

He said a temperature gauge in his vehicle was displaying 102-degree heat. Sadecki said he expected the flames to be coming close to Highway 154 soon, if they haven't already.

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10:27 p.m. update: The American Red Cross Emergency shelter at Dos Pueblos High School is full, indicating at least 200 people are there.

Another shelter has opened at the UC Santa Barbara Multi-Activity Center.

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10:24 p.m. update: Fire crews are responding to active fires along the southern flank of the blaze near the William B. Cater Water Treatment Plant on upper San Roque Road.

Emergency radio traffic indicates winds are blowing hard down slope toward the populated area near Foothill Road.

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10:20 p.m. update: Santa Barbara Fire Capt. Steve Berman said the fire continues to make a stiff westward push. He said visibility is poor in the Northridge Road area, where “we’ve got fire all around us.”

In a television interview Berman said at least one structure on that road had caught fire, while live television shots are showing other structures fully engulfed in flames.

Berman also said a fire crew from Los Angeles reported seeing a bear flee from the brush along Northridge Road down the canyon. He said residents should be aware that a bear is in the area.

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10:09 p.m. update: Reports of a brush fire in the 1100 block of East Mountain Drive proved to be downed power lines, according to Montecito Fire Spokeswoman Geri Ventura. Crews arrived on the scene and handled the incident, she said.

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9:56 p.m. update: Fire crews are responding to reports of a brush fire in the 1100 block of East Mountain Drive, just east of Westmont College. Information is scant, though the hills above Montecito have reportedly endured some of the fiercest winds of the evening.

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9:45 p.m. update: Fire crews are responding to reports of a structure fire in the 1500 block of Las Canoas Road. That location is on the southern flank of the flames in the Mission Canyon area, suggesting that the growth of the fire isn't limited to the western front.

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9:31 p.m. update: A strip of homes west of Highway 154 is now under an evacuation warning. The new area includes Old San Marcos Road, east of Old San Marcos Road and Cathedral Oaks Drive, north of Cathedral Oaks Drive down to La Cumbre Road.

Highway 154 is closed, and according to Los Padres National Forest Deputy Fire Chief Brad Joos, the mountain pass could come in handy as firefighting tool.

“It’s definitely a tool we will use,” he said in a television interview. “We will use it like a fuel break.”

Joos said the blaze is rapidly spreading westward, eating through avocado groves, being fed by high winds and heavy fuels.

“It’s got the dead, decadent fuels,” he said. “It’s carrying the fire, plus the wind. That makes a blowtorch out there.”

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9:13 p.m. update: Highway 154 is closed at its junction with Highway 101. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area.

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9:07 p.m. update: California Highway Patrol officers are in the process of closing Highway 154.

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8:47 p.m. update: Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. David Sadecki said heavy winds are carrying embers from the Jesusita Fire in a westerly direction, sparking spot fires.

In an interview on KEYT Channel 3, he said all residents east of Highway 154 need to leave their homes quickly.

“We can’t get the evacuation orders out quick enough,” he said. “We’re getting a big westerly push. These are the winds we’ve been waiting for all day. They’re here now.”

Sadecki said the fire is also moving toward Foothill Road. The blaze does not appear to have crossed Highway 154.

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8:30 p.m update: Fire Officials said 75 homes were either damaged or destroyed by the blaze, the first official count. The total number of acres burned is 2,739, but the fire, being pushed by brisk winds, is growing quickly to the northwest.

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8:27 p.m. update: The new string of evacuation orders includes Painted Cave Road and East Camino Cielo.

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8:01 p.m. update: Fire officials expanded mandatory evacuations to include all homes north of Foothill Road from Ontare and Morada, west to Highway 154. The western flank of the fire has exploded in the last half hour, prompting officials to dispatch reverse 911 calls to residents in that area.

Sundowner winds predicted for today held off until recently. Now, live television shots of the blaze show the Jesusita Fire has been reinvigorated in some areas.

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6:30 p.m. update: After learning that some local residents have received phone calls from people claiming to represent a firefighter support organization and soliciting donations, the Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance announced it does not solicit donations by phone.

The nonprofit volunteer organization does raise funds to purchase critical but unbudgeted safety equipment for local firefighters. To donate to the alliance, visit www.sbfirefightersalliance.org, send donations to P.O. Box 3776, Santa Barbara, CA 93130 or call 708-3565.

The organization has donated more than $700,000 worth of safety equipment to local firefighters since 2004, including night-vision goggles critical to helicopter pilots during the Tea Fire and the current Jesusita Fire.

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6:21 p.m. update: After evacuating its headquarters and setting up shop in Goleta, the local Red Cross chapter has returned to 2707 State St.

The Red Cross will be holding disaster volunteer training classes at Goleta Presbyterian Church, 6067 Shirrell Way on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested in volunteering can register for the classes between 9:15 and 10 a.m. at the church or the Goleta Valley Community Center. Call 729-6885 for more information.

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6:12 p.m. update: Extreme sundowner winds forecasted to arrive in the foothills of Santa Barbara had yet to materialize and fire officials seemed optimistic during an afternoon press conference.

"We're not out of the woods yet ... but obviously we're not seeing the extreme weather patterns we were seeing yesterday," Cal Fire Spokesman Mike Carr said.

Authorities reported the flames are continuing to spread to the southeast, but not nearly as extensively as yesterday, when heavy winds blasted embers down the slopes into neighborhoods and sparked spot fires.

Acreage is expected to increase from 1,300 acres to the 2,000 to 2,500 acre range, Cal Fire Incident Commander Joe Waterman said. Containment figures, which have remained at zero percent, are also expected to go up this evening, meaning fire crews have secured some edges of the fire.

The number of injured firefighters remains at 10, officials said, including the three Ventura County firefighters who were overrun by flames as the fire exploded yesterday afternoon.

"Everyone is receiving treatment and the prognosis is good," Waterman said.

Figures are still not available on the number of homes destroyed in the fire, he said, but damage inspection teams spent the day putting together assessments.

At least 1,400 fire personnel were on the scene this afternoon, but Waterman said that number will increase as more resources checked in throughout the day. Ten airtankers and 14 helicopters kept up a steady air assault, figures that Waterman said are about the amount they can handle effectively.

He said incident commanders are already putting together contingency lines to deal with worst-case scenarios while firefighters work on the front of the fire itself.

Weather is expected to be similar tomorrow, with hot temperatures, low humidity and sundowner winds possible. However, Waterman said humidity levels should rise through the weekend as an onshore flow brings cooler temperatures.

Speaking to the relative lack of sundowner winds today, County Fire Chief Tom Franklin said weather predictions are called "predictions" for a reason.

"It's Mother Nature," he said. "You don't know what's really going to happen. We're anticipating that that weather could still surface."

And despite the number of lost homes, which are in the dozens, Franklin said there are success stories.

"By all rights, there maybe should have been hundreds of homes lost out there," he said.

The fire chief credited residents who maintained defensible space around their home by clearing brush as a large part of that success.

As far as when residents will be able to return to evacuated neighborhoods, City Fire Battalion Chief Pat McElroy said the situation is still dynamic and unpredictable. However, plans could move forward in the next 24 hours to allow some evacuees to return home.

"We're going to see what the weather gives us tonight," McElroy said.

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5:13 p.m. update: While winds have remained less severe than yesterday, fire officials are responding to small flare-ups throughout the burn area.

At a 5 p.m. news conference, officials said they expect the number of acres burned to increase from its current amount of 1,300 to as much as 2,500, though the exact number remains to be seen.

Estimates of destroyed homes remains at “dozens,” not in “hundreds,” officials said.

Fact sheets at the news conference said 3,500 homes and 100 commercial properties were threatened. Over 5,000 homes remain under an evacuation order.

“We are not out of the woods,” Tom Franklin, Santa Barbara County Fire Chief, said, adding that the winds have picked up slightly and continue to pose a large risk. “It’s a little bit breezier than it was a few minutes ago … We are anticipating that that weather can still surface.”

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5:05 p.m. update: Though not completely destroyed, the Jesusita Fire took its toll on the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden last night, destroying the 1908 Gane House, the proposed centerpiece of a controversial building project there known as the Vital Mission Plan.

Botanic Garden officials say they hoped to rehabilitate and receive historic landmark status for the large craftsman-style home.

Also lost in the fire was a deck overlooking Mission Canyon Creek, a lathe house and the director’s residence and garage.

According to a statement from the Botanic Gardens, firefighters credited their ability to save a number of other structures to access to fire hydrants recently installed there.

The Botanic Garden will remain closed until further notice. Updates on the Botanic Garden’s status will be available at www.santabarbarabotanicgarden.com.

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4:08 p.m. update: Fire officials say the plume of smoke rising from the Jesusita Fire is in a remote canyon far from structures, and at the moment, no flare-ups are occurring in populated areas, though hot spots remain.

“Things are relatively calm at the moment,” said Santa Barbara City Fire Spokesman John Ahlman. “It appears the fire has gone over the top of La Cumbre Peak.

“People are working on the hot spots that are accessible.”

By this time yesterday, ferocious sundowner winds lifted embers into the sky sparking spot fires ahead of firefighters, which quickly began consuming homes.

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4:01 p.m. update: The Jesusita Fire has prompted the Santa Barbara Symphony to cancel its benefit concert scheduled for tonight at the Lobero Theatre.

Instead, violinists Gilles Apap and Caroline Campbell and pianist Miwa Gofuku, who were on the bill for the event, will perform at 7 p.m. for fire evacuees taking shelter at Dos Pueblos High School.

The private chef who had already prepared food for the event will be serving the food at the shelter.

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3:54 p.m. update: In light of the strain on water resources, officials at the Carpinteria Valley Water District asked its users in its district and the Montecito Water District to restrict water use to essential uses only.

Water officials said reservoir storage levels have been adversely impacted by the extreme customer demand resulting from the hot, dry weather and the firefight. The district asked users to postpone landscape irrigation, vehicle washing and other outdoor water uses until the Jesusita Fire threat has passed.

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3:19 p.m. update: A total of 110 fire evacuees spent the night in a Red Cross emergency shelter at Dos Pueblos High School, officials said. The local Red Cross chapter staff have evacuated their headquarters at 2707 State St. and are operating out of the Goleta Valley Community Center.

Community members interested in becoming disaster volunteers should visit the center on Friday or Saturday at 9 a.m. Classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all new volunteers must attend an orientation and courses in emergency shelter operations and mass care.

More information on volunteer training should be available at www.sbredcross.org. Those who want to donate funds to the disaster relief effort can also visit the Web site to make a secure donation.

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3:07 p.m. update: Winds remain relatively mellow in Mission Canyon, prompting City Fire Capt. Steve Berman to express a bit of optimism.

"Things look a lot better at this moment than they did yesterday," he said, although noting he is still extremely worried about winds picking up this afternoon.

The main body of fire appears to be high on the slopes of the foothills, but spot fires and smoldering areas could flare up throughout populated neighborhoods if gusty winds return.

Media are being strongly advised to pull out of canyon areas with narrow roadways to ensure they don't obstruct firefighting efforts should winds pick up as forecasted.

"We don't know what's going to happen," City Fire Spokesman John Ahlman said.

3:02 p.m. update: Fire officials have expanded the evacuation warning area to the southeast. Boundaries now include areas east of La Cumbre Road to State Street, down to De la Vina Street, and zigzagging along Anapamu, Anacapa, De la Guerra, Milpas, Quinientos and Clifton streets.

The boundary continues northeasterly along Barker Pass to Foothill roads up to Stanwood Drive.

2:53 p.m. update: A somber Das Williams, Santa Barbara city councilmember, described a late-morning tour through parts of Mission Canyon ravaged by flames yesterday afternoon.

"It was really strange," he said. "It was different than what you'd expect. It wasn't one line of homes destroyed. It almost seemed at random. There would be one totally destroyed and right next to it there would be one totally untouched. It was really kind of a patchwork of destruction and salvation."

While he had yet to hear an official figure of homes destroyed, Williams said he personally saw more than 20 lost residences.

The councilmember visited hard-hit Palomino and Tunnel roads, as well as Skofield and Rattlesnake canyons, which appeared to have fared the firestorm somewhat better. He described narrow roadways with vegetation growing thick on both sides, seemingly wide enough for only a large car, much less a full-sized fire engine.

"You could see how dangerous it would be for firefighters to be in that area when the fire was threatening to engulf them," Williams said.

After speaking with fire officials, he said the emphasis remains on populated areas along the southern edge of the fire. The goal to the eastern and northern flanks appear to be holding flames to East Camino Cielo and Gibraltar Road, he said.

"Because the terrain is so difficult on the north and the east, they seem to be moving the lines to a very defensible position," Williams said.

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2:41 p.m. update: Winds are fairly mellow in the Mission Canyon area, but firefighters are already restricting access for media on roadways heading into upper areas of the canyon in anticipation of gusty winds later this afternoon.

Active flames appear to be a distance away from populated areas, but hot spots are still smoldering throughout neighborhoods, including at the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. The gardens appear to have weathered the firestorm somewhat well, with some structures and meadow areas apparently unscathed.

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2:35 p.m. update: Officials are again urging local residents to use water for essential uses only to reduce negative impacts on reservoir storage levels and water pressure in the Jesusita Fire area.

The Carpinteria Valley and Montecito water districts are asking customers to put off landscape irrigation, car washes and other outdoor water use until the threat of the fire has passed.

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2:12 p.m. update: Free coffee and water is being offered to firefighters at Hot Spots, the downtown espresso bar and visitor center at 36 State St.

Firefighters will also be offered discounts on all other beverages and food items. The location will be transitioning to a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week schedule this Saturday.

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1:51 p.m. update: Several South Coast events have been postponed due to the Jesusita fire – including the long-awaited opening of the Apple retail computer store in Santa Barbara – officials said Thursday.

Among the other delayed events were Thursday’s annual Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission luncheon at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort and Hotel.

Sergio Villa, president of the Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he decided to postpone his group’s 14th annual awards banquet, scheduled for Friday at the Doubletree.

Amy Barney, Apple corporate spokeswoman in Cupertino, said the opening of the new retail store at 928 State St. planned for Saturday morning also has been postponed. She said new information on the opening can be found at apple.com/retail/statestreet

No new dates for those three events had been set as of Thursday afternoon.

Other postponed events include:

* 1st Thursday at various locations in Santa Barbara

* "Sizzlin Fiddlin," Santa Barbara Symphony Benefit Concert on Thursday

* Lily Tomlin at the Lobero Theater on Friday and Saturday

* “California’s Changed Legal Landscape in Land Use, Manufacturing, and Climate Change” Friday morning breakfast at the Santa Barbara Club

-By Ray Estrada, Daily Sound Correspondent

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1:47 p.m. update: The local chapter of the American Red Cross has received a donation of $25,000 from Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. The funds will be used for disaster relief and to help the organization respond to those impacted by the Jesusita Fire and other emergencies.

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1:42 p.m. update: Free counseling sessions are being offered to individuals and families impacted by the Jesusita Fire at UC Santa Barbara's Hosford Counseling and Psychological Services Clinic.

The offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to the availability of clinicians. After three free sessions, individuals will be referred for ongoing treatment or may continue to be seen at the clinic. More information is available by calling 893-8064 or visiting education.ucsb.edu/hosford.

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1:39 p.m. update: Evacuees are being reminded that many homeowner insurance policies cover additional living expenses due to mandatory evacuations.

"Coming up with extra money for hotel stays, extra food and other additional living costs are the last thing fire evacuees should have to worry about," Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said in a news release. "Check your policy and, if you have any insurance questions, call the Department of Insurance at 800-927-HELP."

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1:16 p.m. update: Due to the large number of animals taken to shelters, the Santa Barbara Humane Society is seeking donations of medium to large-sized animal crates. Donations can be taken to the Humane Society at 5399 Overpass Rd.

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12:16 p.m. update: The three Ventura County firefighters who suffered serious injuries when they were overrun by wind-whipped flames have been upgraded to good condition, although they are facing surgery and a lengthy recovery, officials said.

They have been identified as Capt. Brian Bulger, Capt. Ron Topolinski and Firefighter Robert Lopez. All three were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital before being transported to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks.

Dr. Peter Grossman said none of the men have life-threatening injuries while speaking at a news conference at the burn center.

"I'm quite certain these brave men will be back out in the field, protecting us all," he said.

Capt. Bulger, 57, suffered inhalation injuries, the doctor said, which can be a very serious condition. Fortunately, he said, the firefighter's life is not in danger.

Capt. Topolinski, 51, suffered burns to approximately 10 percent of his body, including his face and hands. He will go into surgery tomorrow to clean up some of the burns and remove burned tissue, Dr. Grossman said.

Lopez, 44, sustained burns to 15 percent of his body, including his face, ears, arms and back, the doctor said. He is also scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

Capt. Bulger is a 30-year veteran of the department and is a resident of Ventura, officials said. He is normally stationed in Ojai.

Capt. Topolinski has worked for the Ventura County department for 28 years and is normally stationed in Somis. He lives in Camarillo.

Lopez is a 9-year veteran with the department and lives in Port Hueneme. His normal duty station is in Camarillo.

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12:03 p.m. update: Weather officials renewed a high wind warning that has been in effect since 3 p.m. yesterday, extending it through 9 a.m. tomorrow. Gusty winds are expected to hit the Santa Ynez mountains and canyons along the South Coast throughout the afternoon and evening.

"Areas of northwest to north winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts as high as 65 mph will continue through Friday morning," according to a National Weather Service alert. "There may be a lull in the winds in some areas this morning into early this afternoon."

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11:55 a.m. update:  Search and rescue crews checked on several groups of hikers trapped in the backcountry by the Jesusita Fire yesterday and everyone should be able to make it out safely by today, Sheriff Bill Brown said.

A group of 13 seventh and eighth grade students with a teacher from Ojai had been on a hike in the foothills and were trapped, he said. Rescue crews located the hikers and developed plans to evacuate the group.

Three hikers were also reported overdue and had not met up at their pickup point, the sheriff said. An air unit using night-vision goggles located the group and was able to land nearby. Rescuers determined the hikers had food and would be able to make it to a new pickup point.

Addressing questions as to when residents will be able to return to the evacuated areas, Brown said the situation remains tenuous and unpredictable.

"We need to keep people out of the evacuation area," he said. "We are going to get people back in as soon as deemed safe by fire officials."

At last count, 4,715 home are under mandatory evacuations orders, equating to an estimated 12,000 residents who have been ordered from their residences.

City Deputy Police Chief Frank Mannix said a few people have tried to gain access to the mandatory evacuation area and have been stopped by law enforcement.

"We have had some curiosity seekers attempting to enter the evacuation area," he said, noting that such action is a misdemeanor offense.

He said authorities are doing everything they can to protect homes in evacuated neighborhoods and have encountered no significant problems.

"We've had a high degree of cooperation," he said.

The deputy police chief also addressed evacuation issues when asked about the jammed roadways seen yesterday afternoon when winds picked up and pushed the fire down into populated areas.

"Unfortunately, in a disaster like this, there are always going to be congestion problems," he said.

However, he noted that law enforcement and fire officials have developed longstanding strategies and plans to get traffic moving as quickly as possible.

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11:46 a.m. update: Animal services officials have provided emergency care for more than 300 animals displaced by the fire as of yesterday evening. Those who would like to support their efforts may make donations to the Santa Barbara Humane Society.

Needed items include Pedigree dry dog food, Pedigree beef and chicken canned dog food, Johnny Cat Original cat litter, Whiska's dry cat food and Friskies mixed-grill canned cat food.

Donations can be brought to the animal shelter at 5399 Overpass Rd. in Goleta, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

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11:40 a.m. update: Mandatory evacuation orders cover areas to the east of Morada Lane and Ontare Road, from Foothill to San Roque roads, down to Alamar Roads, along State Street to Constance Avenue, along Garden Street to Micheltorena and up to Alameda Padre Serra, continuing to Sycamore Canyon Road to Foothill Road, tying in to El Cielito Road and up to East Camino Cielo.

Warning areas include areas east of La Cumbre Road to State Street, north of De la Vina to Anapamu streets, up to Anacapa and south to De La Guerra streets, north to Milpas Street, down to Montecito Street and up to Alameda Padre Serra.

Health officials reissued an air quality warning for the Santa Barbara area. Officials are also setting up public information kiosks that will updated as frequently as possible.

Kiosk locations are being established at Paseo Nuevo (State and De la Guerra streets), Loreto Plaza (State Street and Las Positas Road), Scolari's Food Co. (222 N. Milpas St.) and Lazy Acres (302 Meigs Rd.).

Direct Relief International will also be handing out free face masks from noon to 3 p.m. today at Loreto Plaza and Lazy Acres.

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11:22 a.m. update: Winds have remained relatively calm in the morning hours, much as fire officials had expected. Crews are attacking lines vigorously in anticipation of heavy winds this afternoon.

"Today is supposed to be a carbon copy of yesterday," County Fire Chief Tom Franklin said, noting that wind gusts were measured yesterday at up to 70 mph. "There's nothing you can do at that point."

He also dismissed any notion that there is a lack of urgency among firefighters or officials, pointing out that approximately 1,400 firefighters have been assigned to the blaze.

"The bulk of these people are on the firelines and working very, very hard," he said.

While the focus remains on the southern flank of the fire, in populated areas throughout Mission Canyon, fire officials are also concerned about active burning to the east, west and north.

City Fire Interim Chief Andy DiMizio said areas of Rattlesnake Canyon on the eastern edge are a significant priority, and he doesn't want to see the fire burn up above where the Tea Fire scorched land six months ago.

"Then it might come back down and threaten homes in Montecito," he said.

Gov. Schwarzenegger made an appearance at Earl Warren Showgrounds this morning, where fire crews from throughout the region have staged and caught a few moments of sleep when possible.

"Thank you very much to the unbelievable firefighters," he said in opening, calling the crews on the lines some of the bravest, toughest and most well-equipped personnel.

The governor echoed the challenges posed by the Jesusita Fire, which has been whipped by fierce winds and is burning in fairly inaccessible, steep terrain. He said dozens of homes have been destroyed, thousands have been evacuated and 10 firefighters have suffered injuries.

Despite budget problems, he said that the state will continue to support firefighting efforts. "We will not be short of money for fighting these fires," Gov. Schwarzenegger said.

Franklin noted that crews may get a break from the steep terrain they struggled with yesterday on the southern flank, since the fire has extended into populated areas that have more access. It should be easier to get a line established in that area, he said.

"The real change in orders today is with aircraft," Franklin said.

A total of 10 helicopters are on the scene, he said, with 12 more on order. In addition, 12 airtankers are expected to be making drops while conditions permit. They will focus on hot spots and inaccessible areas of the fire.

Franklin said ground crews are working steadily to build containment lines while wind conditions are favorable, but noted that they are the most vulnerable fire personnel.

"They can often be quite a distance from a vehicle," he said.

The fire chief said it is difficult for ground crews to remain near the front lines when winds are gusting in the 50 mph range and above.

"We'll only pull them out if the winds come up like yesterday," he said.

Franklin also addressed the three Ventura County firefighters injured yesterday afternoon as winds picked up. Two suffered moderate burns and one suffered inhalation injuries, he said, and are currently receiving treatment. Dimizio said it is always tough for fire officials when firefighters are injured.

"There's no concept of acceptable losses in the fire industry," he said.

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10 a.m. update: Fire officials say the Jesusita Fire has grown to 1,300 acres, and the goal this morning mirrors that of yesterday: to get a handle on the blaze before swift winds pick up this afternoon. City Fire Spokesman John Ahlman said fire maps show the blaze reached the Mt. Calvary Monastery, which was destroyed during last year's Tea Fire and is roughly the western boundary of that fire. Ahlman said the Jesusita Fire spread east to Rattlesnake Canyon. There is no estimate on the numbers of homes that have been destroyed, although live television shots indicate the count could be well above 20. Officials said three Ventura County Firefighters were overrun by flames yesterday at 3 p.m. while defending homes in Mission Canyon. All three firefighters suffered either moderate burns or injuries from smoke inhalation and were taken to the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Fire officials this morning urged all residents to conserve water saying maintaining high water levels in the reservoirs is integral to the firefight.

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THANK YOU : 5/7/2009

Thank you Firefighters from all over California for uniting and doing the best you can to put this fire out. You are greatly appreciated.

SB PIJA

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Jesusita Fire : 5/7/2009

I pray for the firefighters and urge them to be careful, it is definitely not worth getting hurt or killed to save the homes of idiots that didn't put up stucco on their exterior walls, Spanish tile roofs, or clear the land around their homes like urged for YEARS by the SBFD. The fire was inevitable and anyone not prepared deserves to lose their homes.

ken

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: 5/7/2009

You're being disgustingly insensitive. People lose their homes, and you call them an idiot? How dare you.

Devra

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Streaming footage of burn area : 5/7/2009

You can watch live streaming video footage of the fire from the vantage point of the rooftop of Make It Work offices above The Habit in the La Cumbre Plaza at www.makeitwork.com - click the Jesusita Fire link and follow directions to the live video footage feed.

Barb

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Jesusita fire : 5/7/2009

Devra - I lost my home in a San Diego area wildfire and know full well the trauma. However, because of that, I can tell you first hand you are just plain wrong and Ken is absolutely right. The most important thing homeowners can do is clear around their property. The second most important is to have a tile roof and the third is to have non-combustable siding, like stucco. I am in Santa Barbara frequently (my daughter lives there and has evacuated) and I RARELY see a home there, especially in the hill/canyon area, that is adequately prepared for a wildfire. Given the history of recent wildfires (Gap, Tea, etc), people who haven't taken preventive measures can legitimately be called idiots.

Andy

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Jesusita Fire : 5/7/2009

Would have joined the discussion, but am saddened to see that it's reduced to name calling and finger pointing.

Laura

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: 5/7/2009

It's about time someone pointed fingers at people that refuse to take responsibility for themselves and their actions' or lack thereof. Bob

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Idiot? : 5/7/2009

So, let's say I drive a late model car (maybe that's all I can afford?), someone hits my car, and I am injured because there are no side airbags, would I be an idiot then, too?

Laura

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Idiot? Really : 5/7/2009

I lost my home in the Tea Fire. I had a stucco house, I had a new composition roof, I had more than adequate brush clearance, in fact I had no brush at all and a couple of fruit trees several yards from the house. My house burned and I don't consider myself or my neighbors idiots. I watched many, many homes burn on TV last night. I saw several concrete / stucco house with tile roofs burn to the ground. Many of those home had done a fine job of brush clearance (as seen from the air). Some people could have done a better job of clearing the brush but the SB County doesn't require that brush be cleared until mid-June. Perhaps the county/city needs to change their policies for brush clearance. We cleared our brush out at least 3 times a year (grasses and such). This is such a traumatic experience and to call people idiots is just wrong. The home owners didn't start the fire and no matter how "prepared" you are homes will still burn in the conditions we had yesterday. Have some compassion.

sbgal

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Idiot? : 5/7/2009

And I'm guessing that Bob called the City/County and verified the specs of the homes that burned. Yeah, right!

Laura

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To "deserve" or not to "deserve" : 5/7/2009

My view is "deserve" is insensitive, but Ken's main point of accountability is right. To the degree one prepared their home and yard for fire resistance, and their possessions and information for survival or backup, is the degree of sympathy those suffering losses deserve. While I feel anyone who suffers a loss, even if they took no actions to prepare, deserve a modest degree of sympathy (it is human to be in denial and/or procrastinate), those who took action to prepare and still lost (yes, even extensive preparation is not always effective), deserve more sympathy in my book. What is saddest is when one loses one's home because a neighbor failed to cooperate in creating defensible space. While Derva's higher sympathy for anyone's loses is nice for her to express, and I would accept gentle criticism of Ken's use of the word "deserve," I find her tone and remarks out of line. She is being insensitive to Ken's reasonable point, which we would be wise to individually remember, and socially make the norm. More social pressure to encourage responsible building and defensible space is beneficial for us all, and especially for those who have much to lose. I feel the degree society helps those recover should be in rough proportion to both the effort they took to prepare, and the fire-resistance measures they take when the rebuild.

Applebox Bob

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PS, idiots? : 5/7/2009

Yea, 'idiots" is too harsh and un-compassionate for me. I had to read his post 2 more times to see he used this word D & L object to. But for those who've lost that were very irresponsible (had the knowledge, means to remedy (and most who could afford to buy or build in the last 20 years had the means), and ignored the risk, are so foolish, if others want to call them idiots, it's hard to argue they didn't fall within a broad use of the word. Still, such victims get some sympathy from me, and hopefully you readers also see my tact and compassion. Then again, some who assessed the warnings, took no or little action to resist fire, instead bought insurance, enjoyed their landscaping; those who made a clear choice to take the risk and accept the consequences, they are not idiots. But maybe selfish -- let's hope the burning they contributed to didn't cause anyone else's to burn. -- A too complex moral issue to effectively deal with in this format.

Applebox Bob

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Action Item: Promote prescribed burning. : 5/7/2009

Please support any community effort to institute a prescribed control burning program. One is urgently needed for the remaining unburned foothills. And over the long term, one is needed for those areas that have burned in the past 2 years. As a former Los Padres National Forest firefighter, consider what would of happened if this fire broke out in the summer when fuel moisture is much lower, and fire weather would likely be worse. Unless this fire gets much worse (more than 300 homes destroyed), a late season fire in this area with real sundowners (like the Paint fire, 600 homes in 3 hours) would probably burn 500 to 1000, maybe even 2000 homes.

Applebox Bob

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Why didn't you JUST buy a new roof? : 5/7/2009

Did you forget that you had change in your back pocket for a new roof?

Dan Eden

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BURN BABY BURN : 5/7/2009

WHO CARES ABOUT SANTA BARBARA WERE WERE THEY WHEN GOLETA WAS ON FIRE..O LETS WAIT A COUPLE HOURS OR HALF THE DAY TO SEE IF THE FIRE PICKS UP ...THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THESE DECISIONS ARE TRUCKS !!! EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN MISION CAYON ARE RICH...THEY HAVE $$ TO REPLACE EVERYTHING THEY OWN..UNLIKE ALOT OF PEOPLE OUT IN GOLETA WHEN THAT GAP FIRE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE GOODLAND. THE GOODLAND WILL PREVAIL...

THE PEOPLE OF THE GOODLAND

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: 5/7/2009

That previous person is a nut.

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Burn Area Map : 5/7/2009

Sound is better than most at giving straight news instead of infofluff. What I'm trying to find is a map that accuratly shows the areas that have burned. The best I can find area highlly graphic-ized evac maps showing large colored areas, and a photo of a topo map at a kiosk showing people looking at it. Do I actually have to go there, or is there somewher online where I can find this information?

Patrick O'Loughlin

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Suggestion for Daily Sound. : 5/7/2009

As the needs-to-be-investigated person above, BurnBabyBurn, proves, Daily Sound needs to activate the 'report post' feature so morons can be IDed and removed before people losing homes, lives, and livelihoods have a chance to read them.

Chad

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make it works sucks trying to cash in on the fire... : 5/7/2009

make it works sucks trying to cash in on the fire...with their broken webcam that dont work they posted all the last few days on Indep they have a big webcam

make it works sucks trying to cash in on the fire...

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Eastern End : 5/8/2009

Thank you for the words on the east end of the fire. The lack of updates by most media outlets while we watch huge flames whipped by extremely heavy winds has been frustrating.

East Flanker

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Thanks Daily Sound. : 5/8/2009

Thanks for staying with this epic event and doing the most complete and frequent updates. We appreciate that you're covering the east, west and middle of this fire. We're on state just opposite San Roque and no other outlet is reporting on this center branch of the fire. We're very concerned that with the dramatic state of the western fire this evening, we'll have little or no time to evacuate if it crosses foothill with substance.

Werd

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To much delay : 5/8/2009

I hate to say it, but this fire has been mismanaged from the beginning. I watched the less-than-one-acre beginning to this fire for an hour. While managers were arguing about jurisdiction and where to set up base camp, a few truck could have driven up the dirt road and stopped this fire before all the over-planning and assessments were done. Then during the next day we had another chance to bring in the planes like they did in the Tea fire and knock it way down when the winds were low. After two fires in the last year, the Gap fire and the Tea fire, I find it hard to believe the management would make so many gaffs.

Local

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Make It Work : 5/8/2009

The writer that said "make it work sucks" obviously isn't a home owner or local business person. There is no means of monetizing this for us my friend. We are merely providing a service and keeping an eye on the fire near our corporate headquarters. I've lived in this town for 22 years and been through many fires. I wish someone would have done this for me last fire. The camera is working now. It went down since we were all busy evacuating. In any event, our hopes and prayers to all those fighting the fire and to our community.

Eric Greenspan

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Burn Baby Burn : 5/8/2009

I hope Burn Baby Burn burns in hell

Jewnig

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