By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
The #AlisalFire continues to get under control, as it is now 78 percent contained and at 17,253 acres, according to fire officials.
Unfortunately four families have lost their homes in the Gaviota area due to the fire and friends have set up GoFundMe accounts to help them recover.
One of the families that lost their homes were Landon and Mariah Smith. When the fire came through Refugio Canyon, Mariah escaped with their three-year-old daughter and her windshield cracked from the heat that was on both sides of Highway 101. Her husband Landon was hosing down his mother’s house in Arroyo Quemada Canyon and wasn’t able to save any of their belongings. Fire crews also weren’t able to get to their house in time so they lost their house along with their 30’ yurt, water tanks, solar panels, and everything else on the property. As with most mountain properties in Santa Barbara County, the fire insurance policy dropped them after Thomas Fire.
They are staying with friends and family until they can rebuild their home.
The Circle Bar B Guest Ranch also sustained damage in the fire, but thankfully they reported their main lodge, guest accommodations and horse stables are standing. They are assessing their needs and we will update when/if they are requesting help.
“A huge thank you to the firefighters and first responders who have risked their lives and are working around the clock to fight the fire,” Circle Bar B posted on their social media.
IF there are more GoFundMe’s for people who have lost their homes, let us know at news@santaynezvalleystar.com and we will update our story.
On Sunday, onshore flows will strengthen across the area, bringing cooler temperatures (10-15 degrees cooler than Saturday) and higher relative humidity.
Southerly and upvalley winds will prevail through the day on Sunday with gusts around 20 miles per hour, according to InciWeb. Late Sunday night and Monday morning, there will be a dry cold front will sweep across the area. This front will bring even cooler temperatures on Monday as well as higher relative humidity. However, it will also bring strong northwest to north winds to the fire with gusts 25-35 miles per hour likely throughout the day and evening on Monday.
Some areas of the fire are transitioning from suppression to repair, fire officials said. Resources that can be transitioned from suppression to repair will be utilized in those areas. Excess equipment will be reassigned or released.
