Posted on 11/13/2008 7:52:38 PM PST by Porterville
(Santa Barbara/ Montecito) UPDATED: All of Mountain Drive Ordered to Evacuate
Sycamore Canyon Fire Estimated at 20 Acres
Though still no official word yet from fire officials, KEYT is now reporting that all of Mountain Drive should evacuate, as of 6:50 p.m.
Chris Meagher reports that he spoke with Gayle Beebe, the president of Westmont. Some structures have caught fire, including the campus chapel. The students on the Westmont campus who have not evacuated yet are seeking refuge in the campus gym, which is made of concrete and is fireproof. The gym contains supplies for up to 1,200 people. According to Beebe, the fire started not war from the Westmont tea garden.
Because the fire may knock out power to neighborhoods around Santa Barbara, residents may want to sign up for the Indy Alert system, which will send text messages with all fire updated to cell phones. Sign up for Indy Alert here.
More to come as it becomes available. Independent.com will update with further evacuations.
Is the 101 open or closed?
It is up in the windy part of SB right above the college and town...
I have no heard any reports (am watching KEYT right now) that 101 is closed. Regarding the kids in the gym, I am unsure if they are out. I will keep you updated as I hear more.
Prayers that no lives are taken and secondarily no homes and Westmont is protected as much as God can.
Large fraction of downtown SB is without power. TV station went off air, and back now on generators (KEYT). County fire dept. has no update on their web page. All County Sheriffs (burn is in county of SB, not SB city) on and off duty to report to HQ in uniform. Area hasn’t burned in 45 odd years. No control burns due to air pollution laws leaves area with years of growth ready to go. Winds high.
Westmont burning on campus. Everyone is accounted for. 2 vehicles engulfed in flames. New fire burning on campus east of gym.
Santa Barbara had some bad fires in 1964, 1977, and 1990. Hope they can quickly put this one out.
And in 2008. Pretty close to 10000 acres on the front side above Goleta.
Hundred of FFs heading up from LA.....pages going off everywhere
I’m waiting for the real news on this.
Thanks.
I was one who evacuated for that one. We were not in Goleta though many of us were in Santa Barbara foothills in the country area. No homes lost. Thank you God and all the firefighters. Fire ended up 1/2 to 1 mile from my home. It is so scary. God Bless to all tonight.
ARSON ?
It has been dry for the past couple of weeks; a warm day... and November...
The last Malibu fire was a similar situation.
My best friend’s daughters got to Westmont. They’ve evacuated, so they are safe.
Very sad for the school.
My gosh. We can see the flames from our house! This thing is moving. Having just been through one fire, this just breaks my heart. Prayers everyone. Winds, pray the winds go down.
Reading dozens of structures burning....
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