Alisal Fire in Southern California swells to 13,400 acres in one day with only 5% containment
Hundreds of firefighters were battling a brush fire that broke out west of Santa Barbara, forcing evacuations and shutting down a portion of Highway 101, CBS Los Angeles reports.
The Alisal Fire nearly doubled in size in one day, with flames spanning 13,400 acres as of Tuesday night, according to CBS Los Angeles. There was five percent containment:
#AlisalInc Alisal Fire UPDATE. 13,400 acres and 5% containment. crews will be working overnight to provide structure defense, strengthen existing control lines and implement new ones. Next acreage and containment numbers will will be released at 0700 tomorrow after briefing.
— Daniel Bertucelli (@SBCFireInfo) October 13, 2021
The blaze broke out before 2:30 p.m. Monday amid powerful winds near Alisal Lake in the Santa Ynez Mountains. It was burning in dense chaparral, brush and grass.
#Alisal Fire - Having jumped the four lanes of Highway 101, flames continue to burn early Tuesday morning along the Gaviota Coast. pic.twitter.com/OY4ih7a5Ln
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) October 12, 2021
Highway 101 was closed from Highway 1 at Las Cruces to Winchester Canyon Road in Goleta. The fire jumped from the east side to the west side of the freeway, Eliason reported early Tuesday morning, and flames were burning along the Gaviota Coast.
#Alisal Fire - Fire activity early Tuesday morning as seen from Refugio Road. pic.twitter.com/EodVvyxiVf
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) October 12, 2021
Evacuation orders were in place for Arroyo Hondo Canyon and Refugio Canyon, west of Goleta, according to the U.S. Forest Service, along with El Capitan State Park and the El Capitan Campground. Up to 100 structures were threatened, including ranch homes.
Patrick Brown and his family have owned the nearby Circle Bar B Ranch for 82 years. He said he is nervous about "losing everything."
"I've put a lifetime into it," he said. "If I lose it, I don't have a lifetime left to redo it."
There was no word on what caused the fire.
Jamie Yuccas contributed to this report.