Fire reported on top of Refugio Rd in SY Mountains

By Raiza Giorgi · Wed Jun 15 2016

[gallery ids="442,438,450"] Sherpa Fire update as of 6 a.m. On Saturday June 18, 7063 acres, 24 percent contained. No significant growth. Good progress reinforcing existing control lines, according to officials. Highway 101 was closed briefly last night around 5:30 p.m. As the fire jumped the freeway again however it's back open. Authorities said they are most concerned with increasing weather temperatures and possible strong winds gusts up to 50 mph. ***************** Highway 101 is back open this morning after the overnight closure but use caution when driving through. 4000 acres have burned and it's only five percent contained. Major concerns are for the increasing heat and afternoon sundowner winds, according to authorities at the command post at Dos Pueblos High School. 1 outbuilding destroyed however unsure of location and what it was. ************** Caltrans has opened Highway 101 in both directions, however that could change with weather conditions. Also Mother Hubbard's Restaurant in Buellton is offering a place to rest for those displaced and evacuated from the fire. Dianne Curidan is offering a free yoga session from 11 - noon tomorrow in Solvang. Call her at 805-350-0810 to register. *************** Caltrans has just opened Highway 101 southbound from Buellton to Goleta, however northbound from Goleta is still closed. **************** Highway 101 is still closed from Buellton to Goleta and Highway 154 is expected to have high traffic so beware. In the Santa Ynez Valley the Albertsons parking lot and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School have been designated as places for people to stop and rest. The fire has grown overnight to more than 1200 acres with zero percent containment and now El Capitan Ranch as well as Refugio Beach campground have been added to the mandatory evacuation list. ************** HIGHWAY 101 AT BUELLTON AND GOLETA HAVE BEEN CLOSED. Those in the Buellton area are to go to Alberstons on Highway 246 and McMurray Road and Goleta at Winchester Canyon with 0 percent containment at this point. *************** The fire has been updated to 250-acres and named the Sherpa Fire according to Inciweb.

Evacuations are in order for Refugio Canyon, Venedito and Las Floras Canyons - Highway 101 is still open but the wind is pushing the flames towards that direction - Evacuation warnings are in effect for El Capitan Canyon and State Beach. **Those warning have just went to mandatory for Ocean Mesa Campground as well as El Capitan Canyon.

Earl Warren Showgrounds for large animals is taking in large animals and Wake Center for people needing to evacuate. Amber Giorgi Mallea has offered spots at her boarding facility Nojoqui Horse Ranch for horses needing to escape to call her at 805-325-1941.

It started near Rancho La Sherpa which is close to the Reagan Ranch at the top of the Santa Ynez Mountain Range in Refugio Canyon. The incident was reported around 3:30 p.m. and is burning in thick brush that hasn't burned in decades according to Andrew Madsen, U.S. Forest Service. "The potential to grow is great due to wind advisories and can shift but it's too early to tell. There might be some structures threatened but unsure if they are just outposts or buildings," Madsen said. He added that multiple aircrafts including the DC-10 tanker has been called to help fight the fire and get a containment line going. --- A 20-acre brush fire has broken out on top of Refugio Road on the Santa Ynez Mountain range according to Wildlandfire.com. Santa Barbara County and U.S. Forest Service crews were called at about 3:30 p.m. to the blaze, which originally was reported on the 2500 block of Refugio Canyon Road. Resources assigned to the fire included 10 engines, two bulldozers, two 20-person hand crews, three helicopters and eight air tankers, according to the website. A Wind Advisory is in effect for the Santa Ynez Mountain areas until 6 a.m. Thursday. The advisory calls for winds of 15-25 mph, with gusts to 40 mph. Updates and alerts will be sent out via the Twitter handle @sbcfiredispatch, according to Capt. David Zaniboni, public information officer. Zaniboni was headed to the scene to determine more information. It is currently on the Gaviota side of Refugio Canyon.