Santa Barbara Fire, about 2,000 homes in total are threatened by the fire.
SANTA BARBARA - Authorities have evacuated 1,200 homes in the path of a wind-driven wildfire burning in Santa Barbara County and about 2,000 homes in total are threatened by the fire.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has reported that the fire has burned 420 acres and as of Tuesday night is 0% contained.
County Fire is alerting residents that helicopters and ground crews will be working through the night to contain the fire, as long as wind conditions permit.
According to the fire department, the closest the fire is to endangered homes is one half mile.
Fire officials say the Jesusita Fire broke out around 2:00 p.m. in the San Roque Canyon near the Tunnel Road area north of Santa Barbara.
According to Southern California Edison, all customers in Carpinteria and some customers in Montecito lost power for about 20 minutes due to smoke under power transmission lines.
Depending on which direction the fire continues to burn, SCE officials warn that the same people or perhaps people in other areas may lose power tonight.
So far the fire has burned 175 acres of brush.
Evacuations have now been ordered for the Mission Canyon Road area north of the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki says the fire is burning in a southerly direction, having changed due to the winds.
There are no structures threatened at this time, he says winds are pushing the fire toward homes.
Fire Crews from L.A. County are en route to the area to assist in the battle.
Two air tankers and an attack plane were dispatched from Riverside County to Santa Barbara today.
Authorities are issuing an informational reverse 911 call for people west of Highway 154, north of Foothill Road and west of Mission Canyon Road. It is only to let people know there is a fire near them so they can start preparing.
The Santa Barbara Police Department says that Mission Canyon and Mission Ridge roads are both closed at Foothill Road.
Caltrans has closed State Route 192 from the Highway 154 junction. It is closed primarily for eastbound traffic that would be headed toward Mission Canyon.
Southern California's brush is dry and fire is raging in Santa Barbara this afternoon, making this the perfect time to review fire safety.
If evacuation looks likely, here's what fire safety experts say you should grab:
Medicines, prescriptions and first aid kit
Bottled water
Clothing and bedding
Flashlights, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
Special items for infants or elderly or disabled family members
Computer hard drive or laptop
Photographs
Pet food and other pet items such as leashes and water bowls
Important papers, including insurance policies; a list of prescriptions; birth and marriage certificates; passports; drivers license or other personal identification; Social Security cards; recent tax returns; employment information; wills and deeds; stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates; bank, savings and retirement account numbers; home inventory.
The National Fire Protection Assn. advises:
-- If you're moving to a new home in a rural area or buying land to build a new home, do a thorough outdoor fire safety check before you proceed. Locate the home on thelot with adequate setback from downhill slopes. Wildfires travel uphill rapidly -- make sure that your home won't be in its path.
-- Make sure that the area has adequate public fire protection available. Will emergency vehicles have easy access to the house?
-- Make your roof fire safe. Untreated wood shake roofs are the leading cause of wildfire losses. A roof made of fire-resistant or non-combustible materials can make your home safer.
-- Sweep gutters, roofs and eaves regularly, and remove dead branches from around or near chimneys. Burning firebrands or embers can collect in the same space that leaves and pine needles do. Remove leaves and needles from cellar window walls and from corners and crevices around the outside of your home.
-- Create a survivable space, safety zone or "fire break" around your home. -- If you wish to attach an all-wood fence to your home, use masonry or metal as a protective barrier between the fence and house.
-- Use non-flammable metal when constructing a trellis and cover with high-moisture, fire-resistant vegetation.
-- Prevent combustible materials and debris from accumulating beneath patio deck or elevated porches; screen underneath or box in areas below the deck or porch with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 of an inch.
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