The Jesusita Fire was just declared fully contained. There haven't been any flames for a week, but it takes a long time to get containment lines dug all the way around the scar from a 9,000 acre blaze in rugged terrain ...
The weather here continues to be foggy and cool, the "June Gloom" which I personally enjoy (it's the closest thing to real weather we get down here until November ...) has set in. Just a few weeks too late!
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Wildflowers
So the fire is long out, though there are still a lot of fire crews around, mostly clearing burned brush and things like that I believe. There's a big black/gray scar on the mountains over town, it's much more visible from a distance than the previous fire. I'm going to take a bike ride up into the burned zone someday soon when it's foggy (otherwise it'd be really hot up there!).
In late April Danielle and I went up to see the last of the wildflowers at Figueroa Mountain, which is about an hour North of Santa Barbara ... we passed the entrance to Michael Jackson's now infamous Neverland ranch just before getting to the park.
As I mentioned before, Spring and flowers happen very differently in California then say the Northeast, Europe or Minnesota ... the first flowers start showing up at the end of January really, and February and March are really the Spring months. It was always an incredible contrast coming back to California from Minnesota for Spring break in late March. By that point here, some of the flowers have already done their thing, all the trees are fully green, etc ... while in Minnesota, the snow is starting to melt and everything is still dead an getting really muddy.
So, since we were a little late to the flower party, we had to go to the very top (~4k feet) of this mountain where the air is cooler to see the end of the wildflower display. The state budget cuts were fully apparent, as there didn't seem to be any rangers or anything in the state park and there sure weren't many signs either. We eventually found the flowers and they sure didn't disappoint!
Click to see the slideshow.
In late April Danielle and I went up to see the last of the wildflowers at Figueroa Mountain, which is about an hour North of Santa Barbara ... we passed the entrance to Michael Jackson's now infamous Neverland ranch just before getting to the park.
As I mentioned before, Spring and flowers happen very differently in California then say the Northeast, Europe or Minnesota ... the first flowers start showing up at the end of January really, and February and March are really the Spring months. It was always an incredible contrast coming back to California from Minnesota for Spring break in late March. By that point here, some of the flowers have already done their thing, all the trees are fully green, etc ... while in Minnesota, the snow is starting to melt and everything is still dead an getting really muddy.
So, since we were a little late to the flower party, we had to go to the very top (~4k feet) of this mountain where the air is cooler to see the end of the wildflower display. The state budget cuts were fully apparent, as there didn't seem to be any rangers or anything in the state park and there sure weren't many signs either. We eventually found the flowers and they sure didn't disappoint!
Click to see the slideshow.
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| Wildflowers |
Monday, 11 May 2009
All over but the mopping up
Just a quick final update on the Jesusita fire, it is effectively over. The weekend was cool and damp and there was very little wind, so the firefighters switched from defense to offense and have basically put the blaze out. Everyone in town was allowed to return to their homes yesterday. Reports on the ground indicate that around 100 homes were lost, but hundreds were saved by the intense efforts of firefighters protecting them while burning embers rained down on the neighborhoods near the fire.
I imagine there are still smoldering roots or other hotpots up on the mountain which the firefighters are still making sure are out cold, but for all intents and purposes the fire is over. The other bit of good news going forward is that the three fires we've had in the last 10 months now form a protective band around the city, so we should be okay for a little while ...
I imagine there are still smoldering roots or other hotpots up on the mountain which the firefighters are still making sure are out cold, but for all intents and purposes the fire is over. The other bit of good news going forward is that the three fires we've had in the last 10 months now form a protective band around the city, so we should be okay for a little while ...
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Cool and (partly) contained
Today is cool and cloudy, with only light breezes. Much progress was made on containing the fire over night, they're now claiming 30% containment but more importantly the areas which remain threatened by fire are far up the mountainside and away from populated areas. The word is they are about to start relaxing the evacuation areas, but they're still playing it cautious. So, Jesusita is still burning and the firefighters have a lot of work ahead of them to put everything out cold, but for now it looks like the worst is behind us.
The most reliable local news source is the Santa Barbara Independent, which has some really great stories from the field and posts updates from the ground every couple hours. Lots of intense pictures as well.
The most reliable local news source is the Santa Barbara Independent, which has some really great stories from the field and posts updates from the ground every couple hours. Lots of intense pictures as well.
Friday, 8 May 2009
Quiet on the fire front
The air is cool and finally still this evening, with the sweet smell of moisture coming off the ocean replacing the smell of fire carried by the "sundowner" winds. It feels like the 100 degree temperatures have broken and the forecast looks much tamer for the days ahead. The slopes North of town are still smoldering, but we can no longer see towers of flames so if the wind stays down hopefully the over two thousand fire fighters on hand can switch from defense to containment.
Looking good for the time being.
Looking good for the time being.
The winds they keep a changin' ...
Late last night, the winds shifted and the smoke from the Jesusita fire started blowing West towards us. It turned the moon an ominous red and the air smelled of fire. Overnight we got sprinkled with a light layer of ash. While the fire is still many miles from us, those winds drove it further west, greatly expanding the open front above the many houses on the Northern side of Eastern Goleta and Western Santa Barbara. The fire jumped over 154, the snaky highway over the mountains which leads to wine country.
Today, the winds are back to blowing straight South and maybe even a little East. Westmont College, which is in Montecito by the Eastern edge of the fire, was given a noon deadline to evacuate all students and staff. This weekend is Westmont graduation, they have had to shift their ceremonies off campus to Santa Barbara City College. For the students who are graduating, this is their second major fire as last year they "sheltered in place" in the fire proof gym as the Tea Fire destroyed parts of their campus.
There's a satellite heat map which shows where fires have been spotted, you can see how the fire exploded westward last night across the slopes.
Today, the winds are back to blowing straight South and maybe even a little East. Westmont College, which is in Montecito by the Eastern edge of the fire, was given a noon deadline to evacuate all students and staff. This weekend is Westmont graduation, they have had to shift their ceremonies off campus to Santa Barbara City College. For the students who are graduating, this is their second major fire as last year they "sheltered in place" in the fire proof gym as the Tea Fire destroyed parts of their campus.
There's a satellite heat map which shows where fires have been spotted, you can see how the fire exploded westward last night across the slopes.
putting the 'wild' back in 'wildfire'
Well, since our little viewing foray and renaming proposition last night, the jesucristo fire has not failed to disappoint. Or else it's a big mire of disappointment, depending on which way you look at it. It's extended to the west (ie closer to us) and east, and mandatory evacuation orders are now in effect for the far northeast side of Goleta. Fortunately for us we're on the far southwest side of Goleta and are still in the clear, and still in awe and a little horror at how this thing has consumed the mountains over town. We can't see it any more, because the smoke has come down to the west and over the ocean. If there are more developments, we'll post them here.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
more like the 'jesucristo' fire...
After spending some time watching it rage across mountain canyons, Joey and I decided the fire should be upgraded. "Jesusita" doesn't really capture what's going on up there. We also have full and awesome respect for firefighters. For the most up-to-date information on the fire and brimstone of Santa Barbara's mountain ranges, see the county website, and jesusitafire.org.
Photos of the inferno
We went out for a walk today and got a shocking view of the Jesusita inferno raging in the hills above town. The winds and thus the fire were not as intense during the day today as compared to yesterday, but as we watched the fire exploded across a couple of canyons. A wall of flames marched across the slopes and down towards town, with spot fires flaring up hundreds of yards in front of the wall, bursting quickly into enormous fire balls.
There were tons of people out watching and taking pictures. Many of the drivers passing us on the Los Carneros overpass had their camera phones going or simply stopped in the middle of the road to look. Not a good time to be out driving!
There were tons of people out watching and taking pictures. Many of the drivers passing us on the Los Carneros overpass had their camera phones going or simply stopped in the middle of the road to look. Not a good time to be out driving!
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
fire map
Here is a map of the fire that should be updated fairly regularly. Our old haunts are largely on evacuation watch, with a couple on mandatory evacuation. We're very glad to be far from this blaze! Zoom in for details. Our new place is in Goleta near the ocean, several miles to the west.
View Jesusita Fire map in a larger map
View Jesusita Fire map in a larger map
Seriously on fire
While I was writing the last post, they expanded the evacuation orders again ... our first place here in SB is now just two blocks outside the mandatory zone. Smoke has been reported rising right behind the mission!
The Botanic Gardens is toast barring some kind of major miracle.
For regular updates, check out: http://www.independent.com/news/jesusita-fire/
The Botanic Gardens is toast barring some kind of major miracle.
For regular updates, check out: http://www.independent.com/news/jesusita-fire/
On fire again ...
Looks like we moved away from downtown just in time! In case you hadn't heard, we moved to Goleta to family student housing ... it's way cheaper, and so far we're really happy we've moved. We're mostly settled in, got a new couch and most things set up. Still have a few left over boxes and other remnants of the move to sort through ...
But back to the pressing news of the day: FIRE!
The first fire of '09 and the 4th since we've been in Santa Barbara started yesterday afternoon in the hills above downtown, just a little bit uphill from the SB Botanic Gardens for those of you who have been there. For those of you who haven't, well you might have missed your chance! Anyway, here are a couple photos from day 1, just an hour or so after it started:
Not too bad, eh? Just a little spot on the mountain sending up a plume. This morning as I biked in to work, it was even smaller. I figured they had it contained and that it'd be out cold in a day or two. Certainly nothing to worry about.
Well, all that changed around 2 or 3 ... it was a pretty hot day (~95), and the "sundowner" winds started to pick up, blowing down towards the city at up to 50 mph. Yeah, it's a bad scene right now ... these pictures were taken less than an hour ago from our new place in Goleta (10 miles west of downtown).
The "Jesusita" fire is burning basically two canyons west from the previous "Tea" fire area. The very first place we lived is now under evacuation watch ... a huge swath of town North of the mission is under mandatory evacuation orders as the fire is now completely out of control. Our last place is just outside the latest evacuation watch. It's so hot and windy that the fire is jumping long distances and creating spot fires all over, so it's certainly a dangerous situation for a lot of peoples homes right now.
The winds aren't expected to break until midnight or so ... it's gonna be a long night for the huge number of fire crews that have been called in.
It seems really early in the year for a wild fire, but we had no rain in April and the grass turned brown on the hills weeks ago. The seasons here are quite different than 'normal' ... the old saying has to be switched to: January showers bring February flowers. And, apparently, lack of April showers bring May fires!
But back to the pressing news of the day: FIRE!
The first fire of '09 and the 4th since we've been in Santa Barbara started yesterday afternoon in the hills above downtown, just a little bit uphill from the SB Botanic Gardens for those of you who have been there. For those of you who haven't, well you might have missed your chance! Anyway, here are a couple photos from day 1, just an hour or so after it started:
 |
| From 05.06.09 Jesusita Fire |
 |
| From 05.06.09 Jesusita Fire |
Not too bad, eh? Just a little spot on the mountain sending up a plume. This morning as I biked in to work, it was even smaller. I figured they had it contained and that it'd be out cold in a day or two. Certainly nothing to worry about.
Well, all that changed around 2 or 3 ... it was a pretty hot day (~95), and the "sundowner" winds started to pick up, blowing down towards the city at up to 50 mph. Yeah, it's a bad scene right now ... these pictures were taken less than an hour ago from our new place in Goleta (10 miles west of downtown).
 |
| From 05.06.09 Jesusita Fire |
 |
| From 05.06.09 Jesusita Fire |
 |
| From 05.06.09 Jesusita Fire |
The "Jesusita" fire is burning basically two canyons west from the previous "Tea" fire area. The very first place we lived is now under evacuation watch ... a huge swath of town North of the mission is under mandatory evacuation orders as the fire is now completely out of control. Our last place is just outside the latest evacuation watch. It's so hot and windy that the fire is jumping long distances and creating spot fires all over, so it's certainly a dangerous situation for a lot of peoples homes right now.
The winds aren't expected to break until midnight or so ... it's gonna be a long night for the huge number of fire crews that have been called in.
It seems really early in the year for a wild fire, but we had no rain in April and the grass turned brown on the hills weeks ago. The seasons here are quite different than 'normal' ... the old saying has to be switched to: January showers bring February flowers. And, apparently, lack of April showers bring May fires!
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