Santa Barbara is on fire....again

[Tom Slick]

hope anyone in that area is doing okay.

The is the 3rd major fire that area has had in less than a year. Last July was the "Gap" fire and in November the "Tea" fire destroyed 200 homes. This new "Jesusita" fire has areas of their downtown section on alert for evacuation and over 12,000 people have been evacuated with 75 homes burned. They may evacuate 6,000 more people.

They are about 100 miles to the to the south of me.


Map

[krogers]

It looks bad

I am headed to Santa Barbara next week for a couple of meetings. At least that is the current plan. It doesn't look good from where I am sitting. We have had a week straight of rain. So it is hard to imagine what it is like to see fire racing towards your home.

[scmhogg]

Santa Barbara is about 60 miles NW of us here. JR is about 10 miles closer. Still too far away to worry us here. SB has had 100+ temps for the last three days. Abnormally high for a coastal town. The sundowner winds are devastating.

krogers--you should check with your destination hotel. Everything is sold out with evacuees right now. Many of the roads in the area are closed. I seriously doubt that your meeting will be held. Sorry about the rain, we could use it here.

Steve

[krogers]

I wondered the same thing about my hotel reservation. (I have the reservation, but will they keep the reservation. For you Seinfeld fans.) I am staying in Westlake Village on Wednesday night. I don't know if that is close enough to Santa Barbara for the hotel to be affected by the evacuees. I would hate to take up a room for business meetings that someone might really need because they had to flee their home.

[scmhogg]

krogers,

Westlake Village is about 40 miles SE of Santa Barbara on Hwy 101. I hope you are staying at the Westlake Village Inn. It's very nice. You'll be a couple of miles from JR's place.

Steve

[JR]

Yep, WLV is in my neck of the woods! If you get a minute give me call. I'll give you a tour of the shop. I don't know what we'd do for the remainder of the minute, but I'm happy to host.

A room in Westlake is not going to impact the refugees from Santa Barbara. That fire kind of went bonkers last night, spreading East and West, and threating those to the South. The weather is turning, though, with milder temps and lighter breezes expected.

JR

[scmhogg]

I wouldn't let anyone see my shop right now. I am ashamed. Don't tell Rod.

However, I would be happy to buy you and JR a drink at your hotel [at their prices] or elsewhere.

Steve

[JR]

Fire stats from the SB County web site

http://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/dept0.aspx


Fire Status

·<SPAN class=bodytext><SPAN class=body_black> 3,500 acres burned
· 10% contained
· Damage assessment in progress – initial estimate of 75 homes have been damaged or
destroyed
· Approximately 12,204 properties evacuated (mandatory evacuation orders); affects
approx. 30,500 people
· More than 9,188 properties under evacuation warning; approx. 23,000 people affected
· Residences threatened – 3500; commercial properties threatened – 100
· 2,335 personnel on scene: 246 engines, 62 crews
· 14 air tankers and 15 helicopters
· 11 firefighter injuries to date
· Cause under investigation: Tip line –

[Richard in Smithville]

I've been following the fire on the news. I'll live with our brutal winters over that. Any of you guys in or near the area, I'm keeping you in my prayers.

[JR]

I've been following the fire on the news. I'll live with our brutal winters over that. Any of you guys in or near the area, I'm keeping you in my prayers.

The fire is located exactly where I would live, given the choice. It is normally beautiful there. I guess we all have our cross to bear.

JR

[Tom Slick]

For those of you not familiar, this area doesn't normally burn, the previous two fires were arson and the source of this one hasn't been determined. They are having a "perfect storm" of drought conditions, abnormally high temperatures, and high winds.

[krogers]

JR, Thanks for the invite. That is very considerate. I have a full schedule and just 24 hours in Westlake and Santa Barbara and then I am headed to LAX. But if my meeting schedule changes and I get a free minute I will certainly give you a call. - Kevin

[JR]

Drop me a PM if you're going to have a chance to get together. It's always great to meet another BT3Central member.

JR