Thursday's Infrared Map
Note: Map is 1,200 pixels wide.
Click here for Friday's Updates: Santa Barbara County Alisal Fire Updates for Friday, October 15, 2021
Update:
Forest Service News Release
Alisal Fire Update for Thursday, October 14, 2021
16,801 Acres
5% Containment
1,306 Total Personnel
Yesterday
Fire crews held the fire to the north along West Camino Cielo. They completed a successful burnout operation last night from Refugio Road to the Camino Ceilo. The fire also slowed along its eastern flank in the younger fuels from the 2016 Sherpa Fire. Winds drove the fire westward forcing evacuations west of Arroyo Hondo to the intersection of California Highway 101 and Highway 1 towards Gaviota.
Today
Today’s priority will be to halt the spread to the northeast above Refugio Canyon. Crews will continue to use aviation assets as conditions allow. On the western edge, firefighters will work on keeping the fire from crossing Hwy 101 at Gaviota. Focus will be on slowing the fire’s expansion to the west and re-opening Hwy 101. Crews continue to engage the Refugio area, as well as clearing downed trees along rail lines. Additional aircraft will amplify efforts beginning today.
Weather
Winds are the primary force behind fire growth. Expect wind-swithes throughout the day. Northeast winds switch to westerly in the afternoon and back to northeast in the evening. Strong down sloping winds will continue to impact fire behavior over the next several evenings.
Evacuations
The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management – the office managing evactuations — issued a new Evacuation Order and Evacuation Warning Oct. 13 at 11:45 p.m.
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Evacuation Order: For the area west of Arroyo Hondo to the intersection of Hwy 101 and Hwy 1, including Vista Del Mar School and Gaviota Beach.
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Evacuation Warning: Additional evacuation warning for all properties within Hollister Ranch area.
Transition
Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s Type 3 team in coordination with the Los Padres National Forest had been managing the Alisal Fire, since the fire started Oct. 11, 2021. That team transitioned into unified command with California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 (CIIMT1) Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. CIIMT1 is a federal Type 1 Team led by Incident Commander Jerry McGowan.
Update: 16, 801 acres with 5% containment
Basic Information
| Current as of | 10/14/2021, 7:44:20 AM |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Date of Origin | Monday October 11th, 2021 approx. 02:15 PM |
| Location | 20 miles northwest of Santa Barbara within Refugio Canyon |
| Incident Commander | California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 (CIIMT 1) McGowan IC. |
| Incident Description | Wildfire |
| Coordinates | 34.517 latitude, -120.131 longitude |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 1,306 |
| Size | 16,801 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 5% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Monday October 25th, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved |
Chaparral (6 feet), short grass (1 foot) |
| Significant Events |
Fire remained active throughout the day in most divisions with active torching running and backing. Air tankers on the fire today took advantage of favorable weather conditions to lay retardant reinforcing West Camino Cielo out to Gaviota as crews also conducted a firing operation along the Camino later in the afternoon. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions |
Establish anchor points with direct attack, continue structure protection, and mop up. Transitioned to a Type I IMT Team at 7:00pm tonight, CIIMT Team 1 McGowan. |
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Significant growth potential exists due to forecasted northwest to north winds over the fire area pushing the fire both east and west of Refugio Canyon. 24 hours: Fire growth to continue into Gato Canyon to the West. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns |
Southwest winds are likely to develop Wednesday morning, which may turn southeasterly in the afternoon, before becoming northwesterly as the Sundowners strengthen Wednesday evening. Good recovery humidity recoveries likely Wednesday night. Light and mostly onshore winds expected on Thursday. |
October 14, 2021 - Santa Barbara County Alisal Fire updates for Thursday: 16,801 Acres with 5% Containment.
Overnight Infrared Flight Notes: Interpreted Size: 16,801 Interpreted Acres - Growth since last flight: -- Acres
-Scattered heat sources outside of perimeter on south side of perimeter between ocean and US101. ID’d on map as ‘Lento’ area.
-Long sections of straight lines on the S, WNW portion of the initial perimeter that doesn’t appear the fire has reached yet, but probably will.
- Evacuation Order UPDATE 10/13/2021 at 11:45PM: for the area west of Arroyo Hondo to intersection of Hwy 101 and Hwy 1, including Vista Del Mar School and Gaviota Beach. Evacuation order still in effect for Arroyo Hondo Canyon, Refugio Canyon, and the area between El Capitan Beach State Park and West Camino Cielo. Please leave the area immediately.
- Evacuation Warning: UPDATE 10/13/2021 at 11:45PM – Additional evacuation warning for all properties within Hollister Ranch area. Warning still in effect for the area east of El Capitan Beach State Park, west of Dos Pueblos Canyon Rd, and south of West Camino Cielo. Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
Highway 101 remains closed between Highway 1 and Winchester Canyon Road/Cathedral Oaks in both directions.
Basic Information
| Current as of | 10/13/2021, 11:20:23 PM |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Date of Origin | Monday October 11th, 2021 approx. 02:15 PM |
| Location | 20 miles northwest of Santa Barbara within Refugio Canyon |
| Incident Commander | California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 (CIIMT 1) McGowan IC. |
| Incident Description | Wildfire |
| Coordinates | 34.517 latitude, -120.131 longitude |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 1,600 |
| Size | 15,442 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 5% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Monday October 25th, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved |
Chaparral (6 feet), short grass (1 foot) |
| Significant Events |
Fire remained active throughout the day in most divisions with active torching running and backing. Air tankers on the fire today took advantage of favorable weather conditions to lay retardant reinforcing West Camino Cielo out to Gaviota as crews also conducted a firing operation along the Camino later in the afternoon. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions |
Establish anchor points with direct attack, continue structure protection, and mop up. Transitioned to a Type I IMT Team at 7:00pm tonight, CIIMT Team 1 McGowan. |
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Significant growth potential exists due to forecasted northwest to north winds over the fire area pushing the fire both east and west of Refugio Canyon. 24 hours: Fire growth to continue into Gato Canyon to the West. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns |
Southwest winds are likely to develop Wednesday morning, which may turn southeasterly in the afternoon, before becoming northwesterly as the Sundowners strengthen Wednesday evening. Good recovery humidity recoveries likely Wednesday night. Light and mostly onshore winds expected on Thursday. |
MODIS map of the Alisal Fire on Thursday morning at 4:30 A.M.
Note: 1,200 Pixels Wide - Note: Older Yellow not shown
MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for: Santa Barbara County Alisal Fire Updates for Wednesday, October 13, 2021
