Santa Ynez Valley keeping an eye on the Lake Fire

By Michael Chaldu · Sat Jul 13 2024

Blaze that started July 5 at Zaca Lake has spread to nearly 38,000 acres; containment at 19 percent

By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

A layer of smoke and ashes settled over the Santa Ynez Valley in the second week of July as fire crews have battled a blaze that started in the Zaca Lake area and continues to burn on the northern edge of the Valley.

Dubbed the Lake Fire, it was first reported Friday, July 5, and has grown to 37,872 acres and is at 19 percent containment, according to the latest incident update by Cal Fire (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire) at 7:18 p.m. Thursday, July 13.

With the growth, the Lake Fire is now split into a North and South Zone as the fire expands in acreage and personnel. The fire remains under Unified Command, with two fire camps to support firefighting efforts, with 3,034 personnel currently assigned to fight the fire.

An excessive heat warning continues with temperatures reaching 106 degrees on the fire line yesterday. 

A cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but the investigation continues.

As of July 11, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office had Evacuation Orders out for the following: 

• The area east of La Brea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, south of the Los Padres National Forest boundary, and north of the Sisquoc River
• Woodstock (Areas north of Calzada Avenue, east of East Oak Trail Rd., west of Happy Canyon, and south of the Sisquoc River)
• Goat Rock Areas (Area of Goat Rock, east of Figueroa Creek, north of the U.S. Forest Service entrance at Happy Canyon Road, and south of Cachuma Mountain)
• SB Ranger area (remote forest area east of Goat Rock)
• Parts of the Figueroa Mountain area as follows: south of Tunnel House at Sisquoc River, east of Figueroa Creek, north of the southern end of Cachuma Mountain, and west of Los Padres National Forest areas
• All areas from Figueroa Mountain Road at Junction Camp (including Tunnel Rd) to Chamberlin Ranch and all areas from Zaca Lake Road at Foxen Canyon Road north to the Sisquoc River including east of Foxen Canyon Road to the 9000 block.

Areas under an Evacuation Warning as of July 11 are:

• Area east of Kelly Canyon, north of Sisquoc River, west of La Brea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, and south of the Los Padres National Forest.
• Area starting at the south end of Cachuma Creek, northeast of Santa Cruz Creek to Santa Cruz Peak, west through Grand Spring, and to the northern part of Cachuma Creek.
• Area east and north of Alisos Rd (L-shaped road), west of Cachuma Creek, and south of the US Forest Service entrance at Happy Canyon Road.
• Area east of Highway 154, north of Armour Ranch Road/Secretariate St, west of Alisos Rd, and south of the Woodstock area.
• Areas north of Zaca Creek Road to Rancho Sisquoc and south of the Sisquoc River
• Area east of Figueroa Mountain Road, north of Highway 154, west of Calzada Ave/W Oak Trail Rd and south of Woodstock Rd.

UPDATE: Evacuation changes reported on Saturday, July 13:

Evacuation Order downgraded to EVACUATION WARNING:

• The area north of Chamberlin Ranch and properties located southwest of the 5200 block of Figueroa Mountain Road. This excludes the area to the east of Lisque Creek and north of the Sedgwick Reserve facilities, which remains in Evacuation Order.
• The Woodstock community and eastern parts of Oak Trail Estates. 
• The area of KP Ranch west of Alisos Road, and includes parts of Estelle Vineyard Drive, Santa Agueda Creek, and Brinkerhoff Avenue.

EVACUATION WARNINGS CANCELLED:

• The area east of Highway 154, north of Armour Ranch Road/Secretariate St, west of Alisos Rd, and south of the Woodstock and KP Ranch.
• The area east of Figueroa Mountain Road, north of Highway 154, west of Calzada Ave/W Oak Trail Rd and south of Woodstock Rd.

A shelter had been set up at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall at 1745 Mission Drive in Solvang, but the American Red Cross closed the shelter on Thursday.

"We determined that the need was not there for the shelter at the moment, but have all the personnel ready to go to open up a shelter again if conditions warrant it," said Taylor Poisall, regional communications director for the Red Cross. She said that shelter had hosted one overnight evacuee, and five that had come in for various services but did not stay overnight.

Anyone impacted by the Lake Fire and needing sheltering assistance can call the Red Cross at (805) 678-3073, or those who need any additional information can call the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (805)

The area the fire originated from is approximately 15 miles north of Los Olivos and approximately 20 miles east of Los Alamos. The blaze was also getting closer to the former Neverland Ranch, which was Michael Jackson's residence, and the Midland and SYV Family schools.

The fire is apparent to residents, visitors, and businesses in Los Olivos, the nearest town to the fire, but there have been no evacuations warning according to residents, although information has been posted to a portable bulletin board sittingon the corner of Grand Avenue and Alamo Pintado Avenue.

"We can see the smoke and the firefighters around town, but we haven't had any warnings yet," said a Los Olivos resident who was checking out the information on the board and chose not to be identified. "I'm just going about my day like everyone else here. I guess I'm just like Nero — fiddling while the area burns."

Over at the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, two patrons at the bar said they haven't gotten any evacuation warnings, but it has affected their work.

Terry Albrecht, who is a contractor said he had equipment he couldn't get to because its stored in Woodstock, one of the evacuation areas.

"I can't get up there to get my tools because that's the fire area," he said. "So we're just taking it easy here."

Albrecht, who lives in Buellton, and his co-worker Tom Reviea, of Los Olivos, said they haven't heard any indications of an evacuation.

"I think we'll be fine," Reviea said. "They have trees and grass that burn efficiently, but no chaparral, which tends to be a bigger problem with fires like that."

Although evacuations haven't been ordered, the fire is affecting business at Firestone Walker, according to employee Sherri Bjorklund.

"We've had our business practically cut in half," Bjorklund said. "However, the firefighters have been really good at updating us on conditions, and the info they gave us today looked good as far as them making progress."

Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County to be in effect until conditions improve, and Santa Ynez Valley was added to the watch on Thursday.

The firefighting efforts are under the Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, led by Incident Commander Joshua Boehm, and including USFS Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County Fire and Cal Fire, according to LPNF officials. Cooperators working on this incident include Santa Barbara County Sheriff'sDepartment, Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Department of Public Works, the Chumash Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and California Office of Emergency Services.

More information on the fire and evacuations can be found at www.countyofsb.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-5-2024 or by calling the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (833) 688-5551.

The Santa Ynez Valley Star will continue to update this story.