May 11, 2009 at 22:38
With the fire now at least 70% surrounded and residents returning to homes, the worst appears to be over. The skies were hazy but not terribly smokey today. The marine layer ebbed slightly on Sunday May 10 giving NASA’s Advanced Land Imager on the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite an opportunity to assess the damage from space. This photo shows just how large of an area was affected by the blaze (as evidenced by the grey soot colored areas). In total 8,733 acres burned in just under a week.
May 10, 2009 at 18:24
From Santa Barbara County Fire Department:
Fire investigators have confirmed the Jesusita fire origin is adjacent to the Jesusita Trail, commonly accessed from the San Roque or Tunnel Road areas.
The fire cause appears related to the use of power tool equipment involved in vegetation clearance.
Fire investigators are requesting public assistance with identification of the person or persons engaged in vegetation clearance on Monday, May 4th, and Tuesday, May 5th, 2009.
The unidentified persons are known to have been on the trail between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on both days.
Please call the Santa Barbara County Tip Line at 805-686-5061 or contact investigators by email at sbctip@sbcfire.com with information regarding these individuals.
May 10, 2009 at 11:26
At 10:00 AM PT today much of the area affected by the mandatory evacuations was reduced allowing residents of Santa Barbara’s Eastside and foothills to return to their homes. With the weather outside today being cool and misty, conditions are much improved for firefighting operations in the Jesusita Fire. The SBARC Fire Map has been updated to reflect the new evacuation and burn areas. Being on the Westside we were never in the mandatory evacuation or warning areas.
View Jesusita Fire map in a larger map
May 9, 2009 at 10:30
Figures released this morning from the unified command state that 30% of the fire is contained, up from 10% last night. Maps and satellite images showing the extent of the burned area show just how large this fire is.
May 9, 2009 at 00:22
I came across this image on the Flickr site of SeanTrek. He noted that it was taken by NASA’s Aqua satellite Friday (incidentally, this satellite was launched in 2002 from Vandenberg AFB in Santa Barbara County). The image clearly shows the smoke plumes from the Jesusita Fire heading south of the border. Now if we could just get those clouds from Mexico to come up here and dump some rain on the fire!
May 8, 2009 at 23:27
It is just about 11:30 PM ET and a marine layer (fog) has rolled in over Santa Barbara’s south coast. While the flames are still burning strong in the hills the winds are much calmer than forecast giving firefighters some reprieve from the hot and very dry conditions (less than 20% humidity yesterday) that along with offshore winds, helped fan the devastating flames yesterday. Evacuation orders remain as posted earlier.
Just before 8:00 PM PT the local, state and U.S. agencies fighting the Jesusita Fire released a statement with the following facts to date:
Fire Status:
- 8,600 acres burned
- 10% contained
- Damage assessment in progress – initial estimate of 80 homes have been damaged or destroyed
- Approximately 12,204 properties evacuated (mandatory evacuation orders); affects approx. 30,500 people
- More than 11,524 properties under evacuation warning; approx. 29,000 people affected
- Residences threatened – 3,500; commercial properties threatened – 100
- 3,455 personnel on scene: 428 engines, 78 crews
- 14 air tankers and 15 helicopters
- 11 firefighter injuries to date
- Cause under investigation: Tip line – 805-686-5074
- Air quality warning remains in effect
- Estimated costs to date $3.2 million
