‘Fast-moving’ Cave Fire grows to 3,300 acres above Santa Barbara

Find Cave Fire updates here »» Acreage jumps to 4,100 in wind-driven Cave Fire in mountains above Santa Barbara

Update 11:30 p.m.:

As of 9:30 p.m., what has been dubbed the Cave Fire had charred an estimated 3,300 acres, according to Mike Eliason, a Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman.

Containment was at 0%.

Several homes and other structures were threatened by the flames, Eliason said, particularly in the Cieneguitas Road area. However, there had been no confirmation of any structures damaged or destroyed.

Update 7:55 p.m.:

As of 7:45 p.m., the blaze, dubbed the Cave Fire, had charred an estimated 2,500 acres, according to Capt. Daniel Bertucelli of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

There had been no confirmation of any structures damaged or destroyed, but the fast-moving fire made it difficult to make an assessment, Bertucelli said.

Cal Fire San Luis Obispo tweeted Monday night it is sending a strike team of engines, hand crews and overhead to the Cave Fire.

Update 7:30 p.m.

Evacuation orders have once again been increased for residents from Ontare to Patterson Avenue north of Cathedral Oaks Road, according to a tweet from Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

Meanwhile the fire seemed to be inching closing to the city.

At about 7:15 p.m., the flames reportedly had jumped to the west side of Highway 154 near San Antonio Creek Road and Via Chaparral.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department public information officer Mike Eliason tweeted that firefighters were working on spot fires after the blaze jumped over the highway in the area near Santa Barbara city limits.

Two Santa Barbara County helicopters were dispatched to assist in the fire fight, and a copter from Los Angeles County was reported en route.

Meanwhile, University of California Santa Barbara officials sent out a notice to students and campus community Monday evening saying they are aware of the vegetation fire, but that it “poses no threat to our campus.”

The university’s housing department tweeted that its operations will are unlikely to be affected, but that campus officials are in contact with local public safety and government officials and are closely monitoring the situation.

Update 7 p.m.:

Evacuation orders have been extended due to the Cave Fire.

According to a tweet from Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office on Monday evening, an evacuation order is now being issued to residents in the area between Highway 154 and Patterson Road.

Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders as of 5 p.m. for the area between East Camino Cielo and Highway 192/Foothill Road, between Highway 154 on the west side and North Ontare Road on the east side, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. Also included was the Trout Club neighborhood near Highway 154 and Old San Marcos Road.

Shortly before 7 p.m., the evacuation order was extended to the area north of Cathedral Oaks Road, between Highway 154 and Patterson Avenue.

“Down canyon winds really pushing it now,” fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli told Noozhawk.

An evacuation shelter was being set up at the Goleta Valley Community Center at 5679 Hollister Ave., and evacuated residents could take small animals to the Goleta animal shelter at 5473 Overpass Road, county spokeswoman Gina DePinto said.

Large animals, including horses, can be taken to the Earl Warren Showgrounds at 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.

An evacuation map is live on the Santa Barbara County website. For a complete roundup of evacuated areas, view it here: https://readysbc.org/.

Update 5:50 p.m.:

Highway 154 is closed at Highway 246 and Highway 192, according to a CHP tweet around 5:50 p.m.

CHP advises drivers to use Highway 101 as an alternate route.

Update 5:30 p.m.:

Evacuation warnings were issued between Highway 154 and Fairview Avenue, in Goleta, from Ontare East to Gibraltar Road.

Santa Barbara County and Los Padres National Forest firefighting crews responded to the scene, said County Fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli. The fire had burned an estimated 15 acres as of 5:15 p.m. and was burning downhill, with strong winds blowing in the area, according to the County Fire Department.

A National Weather Service High Wind Warning is in effect for the East Camino Cielo area of the Santa Ynez Mountains through 3 a.m. Tuesday, with gusts up to 70 mph possible.

Update 5:15 p.m.:

Caltrans is in the process of closing Highway 154 at Painted Cave and Camino Cielo, according to CHP’s traffic report page.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area.

Santa Barbara County Fire says the blaze is 15 acres and “wind-driven” down into the canyon.

According to the National Weather Service, winds in the area are 5 to 8 mph, with gusts of up to 27 mph.

Update: 5:03 p.m.:

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is ordering evacuations for residents in the area of the blaze.

The office tweeted the evacuation order around 5 p.m., saying they are for the Painted Cave area.

The size of the fire is still unclear.

Original story:

Fire crews responded to a vegetation fire reported in the Santa Ynez Mountains near Highway 154 above Santa Barbara Monday afternoon, and the white smoke could be seen from the South Coast.

Authorities sent out a wireless emergency alert about the fire at 4:30 p.m. and also notified nearby residents using the 9-1-1 system, according to emergency radio traffic.

The blaze was originally reported in the area of Painted Cave Road and East Camino Cielo Road, east of Highway 154.

Evacuations were underway as of 4:30 p.m., according to emergency radio traffic.

No further details were available.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published November 25, 2019 at 4:54 PM.