Fire update: Goleta and more

If your outdoor plans for the big Fourth of July weekend involve staying local, odds are good that you won't encounter any wildfires.

But if your plans include a visit to the Santa Barbara area, exercise caution. A recent update by Times writers Eric Bailey, Steve Chawkins and Catherine Saillant reveals that the Goleta fire doubled in size overnight to 2,400 acres. For an AP video on the situation, click "Read More."

For more complete information on the fires burning statewide, visit the interactive map.

-- Liam Gowing

Photo of Goleta fire by Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Buzz]

We passed through Goleta last evening on the way to Pismo. The fire is way off the 101 to the east and in the hills. At the moment winds in Pismo (7/3 at 5pm) are gusting to 30+ miles per hour and the air along the central coast is smokey from the Santa Barbara and Big Sur fires.. The weather has suddenly turned warm up here with 85 degrees at the beach.

[TM]

The above comment is innaccurate. The fire is about 2 miles from homes and is spreading upwards and down slope and has gotten frighteningly close to homes. There are many orchards and ranches and homes built into the hills. When you can see 100ft flames from your street, it's too close....

[Emily]

The fire is definitely close to homes in the Goleta area but should not concern anyone coming to Santa Barbara to enjoy the West Beach Fireworks or anything else Downtown/Beaches/Harbor/Pier this weekend. It is definitely HOT.

[bethany marquis]

At the pier in Santa Barbara it is nice and not smoky....the fire is close in Goleta but if you need an escape come down to the beach and escape for a while.

[Dana]

Just hoping it doesn't get to El Capitan State Beach. We have reservations there in a few weeks.

[sheila Stark]

it's 8:40 pm Thursday and I am currently on the phone with my daughter who lives in Goleta on Cathedral Oaks. They were evacuated about an hour ago. It is really bad, and they were just turned away from University Avenue that the authorities were closing off. The power is out, and traffic is horrendous. It took her boyfriend 1/2 hour to go about a mile. Stay away from the East side of 101 and leave the roads open for people who need to get out.

[Bri]

I am in Palm Springs for the holiday. The fire started when i arrived here. I am very concerned, and have fears that it may spread to santa barbara. I dont know what the chances are. My place is in the La Cumbre area. Does anyone have an idea of how close the chances are? I dont know if making my trip short and coming home is necessary at this point.

[Lucero]

Last night as I drove in from Santa Maria to Santa Barbara on the 101 south around 9pm, I could see the fire behind the mountains on my left, as I drove by Refugio Beach. As I got closer to Goleta, nearing the Winchester Canyon exit, the headlights of cars heading north on the 101 started to show and continued for miles. I am not sure if they were evacuees or commuters trying to drive home to Lompoc or Santa Maria. When I drove into Isla Vista to pick up my roommate and got closer to the University, the air was very ashy and it made my eyes and breathing a bit uncomfortable. We headed out to Old Town Goleta to check on my cat and drove by some areas without electricity on Hollister Ave around La Patera where the Amtrack station is. My headlights illuminated the continuous ash rain falling on Goleta. When I finally arrived home, I saw that the ground and parked cars were covered with a thin layer of ash and the surrounding mountains had a smoky cloud above them for miles. I drove to Santa Barbara to pick up my boyfriend from work, whom I had told to stay off the bus just in case. I rolled down my windows eager to breathe in clean air around Las Positas area. Everything was business as usual when I arrived to State street in Santa Barbara around 10:30 pm, which gave some peace of mind. Since I wasn't sure where the stagnant line of cars heading north on the 101 actually begun, I decided to stay off the freeway. We drove back to Goleta, windows down and without incident, really appreciating the clean air filling our lungs for a good while. We stopped in the Turnpike area next to San Marcos High School for some snacks and noticed the air was getting heavier and warmer, but still breatheable. Once we drove by Patterson and into Old Town Goleta, our windows were up and we used a sweater to cover our mouths. Some of our neighbors were outside and waved at us as we drove by. The ash rain was noticeable again and as soon as we got home, we turned on the radio to listen to fire updates and did not go out again.

[Lucero]

When I drove home to Goleta from Santa Maria on the 101 south around 9pm, I could see the fire behind the mountains on my left as I drove by Refugio Beach. As I got closer to Goleta the headlights of cars heading north on the 101 begun and continued for miles. When I drove by UCSB the air was very ashy and it made breathing a bit uncomfortable. There were some areas without electricity and my headlights illuminated the continuous ash rain falling on Goleta. The ground and parked cars were covered with a thin layer of ash and the surrounding mountains had a smoky cloud above them for miles.

[Lori Steed]

We also drove through Goleta (our home town) to Pismo last night (passed Goleta at around 6 p.m.) and agree with the other comments - not the first posted at 5:09. There was heavy smoke in Goleta, yes, between Patterson and Turnpike. However, the central coast (Pismo, Avila) is relatively smoke free compared to San Luis for example, which is getting smoke from the north.

[Beverly Ewing]

Looking for a current update on the goleta gap fire and its relationship to Winchester Canyon???? My sister lives on Vereda Cordillera?????? Can't seem to contact her!!!

[Beverly Ewing]

Trying to find the situation around Winchester Canyon my sister lives on Vereda Cordillera

[cat]

check out the city of Goleta fire update and map. I'm not sure where Winchester Canyon is on the map. I know that if she lives near hwy 154 or old san marcos road in the hills then she should be out of her house. anyone who lives below turnpike and cathedral oaks should be ok. my inlaws live near old san marcos road but they are well below the fire.

[Susan Beere]

Is the fire burning near the vineyards north of Santa Barbara?
I remember visiting there years ago and it was so beautiful. It would be a trajedy.
Goleta . Santa Barbara - all the towns nearby are charming and picturesque - I hope that the winds change or die out . Terrible photos on the news - best to everyone there!