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https://keyt.com/news/fire/2021/10/11/freeway-closed-evacuations-ordered-as-alisal-fire-grows-to-8000-acres/
Freeway closed, evacuations ordered as Alisal Fire grows to 8,000 acres
The Alisal Fire has burned 8,000 acres and is currently 0% contained.
The fire was first reported Monday afternoon in the mountains between the Gaviota Coast and the Santa Ynez Valley. The fire is believed to have been sparked in the Santa Ynez Mountains above Alisal Reservoir.
The fire quickly burned more than 50 acres and was growing at a rapid rate of spread, according to Los Padres National Forest Public Information Officer Andrew Madsen.
By Monday evening the fire had grown to more than 3,000 acres and continued to spread overnight.
The fire burned in dense chaparral and was being pushed by strong winds. Smoke was visible throughout southern Santa Barbara County including from the Santa Ynez Valley and along the Gaviota coastline.
More than 200 firefighters are on site. Air support units were called in to respond to the fire on Monday but were grounded due to severe winds. Helicopters joined the fire fight Tuesday morning, but fixed-wing aircraft remained grounded.
Much of Santa Barbara County was under a high wind warning with strong winds throughout the area when the fire first broke out. That warning remained in place until Tuesday morning.
Nikki Stevens from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said fire crews were prepared to battle the fire as it made its way down the hills and towards the ocean. It is not expected to threaten Goleta, Stevens said.
Evacuations
Currently, an evacuation order is in effect for residents in the Refugio Canyon, including Arroyo Hondo, Tajiguas and Arroyo Quemada. The evacuation order was later expanded to include El Capitan State Park and the El Capitan Campground.
An evacuation warning was put in place for the area north of El Capitan Campground and east to Dos Pueblos Canyon, east of Calle Mariposa Reina, west of Arroyo Hondo, and south of West Camino Cielo.
The evacuation order expanded to the area between El Capitan Beach State Park and W. Camino Cielo Road.
A temporary evacuation center was set up at the parking lot of Dos Pueblos High School at 7266 Alameda Avenue in Goleta.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services has been activated to assist with animal evacuations. Livestock can be taken to the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Animal owners should call 805-681-4332 if assistance is needed to evacuate animals.
As many as 100 structures, including ranches and homes, are immediately threatened, Stevens said. Stevens said sheriff's deputies are going door to door to make sure residents are evacuated.
One outbuilding was lost to the fire by 10 p.m. Monday.
Road Closures
Caltrans closed Highway 101 in both directions Monday afternoon as the fire burned its way down the hillside toward the freeway.
The Highway 101 closure is in place from Highway 1 at Las Cruces to Winchester Canyon/Cathedral Oaks Road in Goleta.
Refugio Road is fully in the immediate area of the fire, and is closed, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Traffic is slowed in the area of the closure due to poor visibility and emergency vehicles. A traffic crash involving a big rig took place just north of Refugio, according to CHP. The semi-truck went off the roadway and caught fire.
The Los Padres National Forest Service is the lead agency responding to the fire with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
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