Fires lay a blanket of smoke, soot and ash far and wide

Here's hoping this is the last eerie red sunset of the year and, while we're hoping, for years to come.

I snapped the accompanying photo at 4:40 p.m. Sunday at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.

I was driving home after spending two days surfing in Carlsbad, where, by the way, the air was clear and pleasant. I took Pacific Coast Highway instead of the freeway because I was in no hurry to enter the toxic-looking vortex plainly visible to the north.

The sun became obscured in Newport Beach. My eyes began to sting as I entered Huntington Beach. I stopped to stretch my legs at Bolsa Chica and noticed gulls and pelicans looking as lethargic as people.

Birds that flew seemed to seek relief, not food. Santa Ana winds had spread a dense blanket of smoke and ash clear to the horizon, and as those winds calmed the blanket settled like burnt fog.

At home in Redondo Beach it was hot, the air was still and smoke-filled. Like many who live near the beach, I do not have air-conditioning. But I do have a home so I tried not to complain.

I thought of the hundreds whose homes went up in flames and wondered how much of the smoke obscuring the sunset had previously belonged, materially, to them.

Too much of it, I'm afraid. So here's hoping indeed....

--Pete Thomas

Photo: Pete Thomas / Los Angeles Times

Sylmar fire transforming this into the weekend from hell

Another fire so soon?

Predictably, yes.

With the Montecito Tea fire still burning, a second blaze was sparked Friday night and is now raging out of control in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

We're under assault by the most powerful, hottest and driest Santa Ana wind event of the season.

Fueled by wind gusts as strong as 70 mph, the Sylmar-area blaze, dubbed the Sayre fire, has already burned more than 2,600 acres, including several structures and possibly an entire mobile home park.

Thousands of evacuations have been ordered, and residents throughout the northern portion of the Valley should be prepared to flee. Travelers will find much of the freeway system closed.

Unfortunately, this is what can happen to homes built in canyons through which Santa Anas are delivered (see above image). All it takes is a downed power line to spark a fire, which is then swept up by those winds.

Accuweather.com meteorologist John Kocet said of current conditions: "Think of what would happen if you pounded your fist on the bottom half of a full tube of toothpaste.... The same forces apply in the atmosphere when a large amount of air is forced through smaller spaces."

Living in these areas, alas, is a gamble.

And as daytime temperatures soar, the danger will persist throughout the Southland. Fortunately, the winds are expected to subside this afternoon, but a Santa Ana condition will linger through at least Sunday.

Good luck, everyone.

-- Pete Thomas

Image: accuweather.com

Montecito fire crews, residents shouldn't expect more sundowners

I just spoke with meteorologist Ken Clark from Accuweather.com and he said crews battling the Montecito fire do not have to worry about more sundowner winds this afternoon or evening.

That's because a Santa Ana wind pattern is developing and Montecito, while vulnerable to the north-south sundowners, is essentially protected from the northeast-southwest Santa Anas.

"Once the Santa Anas develop, the sundowners are gone," Clark said. "You don't have both occurring at the same time."

That's great news for weary fire crews, but not so great for the many areas throughout Southern California that are exposed to warm, dry Santa Anas, and thus vulnerable to wildfires.

Santa Anas have already begun whipping through areas such as Camarillo, Oxnard, Riverside, San Bernardino and portions of the San Fernando Valley. Clark said the most widespread and consistent winds, and much drier air, will prevail from midnight to about noon Saturday, but last through the weekend.

Alas, Clark sees no rain in the near future and predicts a very dry winter. Let's all hope he's wrong, for the sake of homeowners and firefighters as well as a parched wilderness.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Flames crest a ridge occupied by high-voltage power lines near Mountain Drive and Coyote Road in Montecito. Credit: Michael Moriatas/Santa Barbara News Press

Montecito fire devastates; winds subside, but for how long?

What a hellish night it must have been for residents and fire crews in  the Montecito area near Santa Barbara. And what a heart-wrenching morning it must be for the 100-plus residents who lost their homes.

(Read about the fire and view more photos on the L.A. Times website.)

It remains nerve-wracking for many with homes still in jeopardy, because while crews have taken advantage of subsiding winds and are working toward defining a perimeter around the fire, they're concerned about the arrival once again of the region's notorious Sundowner winds.

Sundowner winds, unique to the Santa Barbara coastal area, are labeled such because they develop in late afternoon or early evening. They're associated with a rapid rise in temperature and drop in humidity. Wind speeds can reach gale force as they sweep downward through canyons and across the coastal plain.

Sundowners last night and early this morning reached 70 mph and sent embers hurtling high  and far. With so much dense brush in the area, John Scherrei, chief of the Santa Barbara County  Fire Department, said in a news conference this morning, "I'm surprised we haven't lost 500 homes."

Scherrei expressed hope the Sundowners won't resurface this afternoon, but we're still in a hot and dry episode, so they could resurface and residents of the area should anticipate as much, authorities said, and be prepared for the worst.

Currently, the prevailing westerly is trying to come ashore, but it keeps getting pushed back. That's a battle everyone is keeping an eye on.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Home is engulfed in flames on Stanwoood Drive in the Montecito area. It's one of at least 100 homes  destroyed by the fire. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times

Santa Barbara-area brush fire burns into the night

Thanks to Carpinteria resident Anthony Lombardi for sharing these photos of the brush fire burning tonight in the hills above Montecito and Santa Barbara.

The fire was reported at 5:45 p.m. on Mountain Road, a Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman said. It had burned nearly five acres by about 6:30 p.m. and some residents in the area were ordered to evacuate.

The wind is blowing and gusts to 50 mph are in the forecast later tonight.

Hopefully those stronger winds will not develop and crews will get  a handle on this blaze before it further endangers life and property.

Hopefully, too, we'll get our rainy season soon, because the fire season has dragged on far too long.

—Pete Thomas

Photos: Anthony Lombardi

SoCal wildfire effects spread far and wide

Even the pelican in this photo probably senses something funny about the air.

The wildfires have burned thousands of acres, and smoke and ash seem to have advanced beyond the horizon. I snapped this photo just before 6:30 p.m., while standing amid joggers and brisk walkers exercising and breathing invisible soot.

Experts probably would agree that it's best to wait until the air clears before exercising outdoors, unless you're certain you are out of the path of smoke. Hikers will find red-flag closures throughout much of the state park system because of the potential for fires in this extreme dry period.

Let's hope there won't be any additional fires and the situation improves Tuesday and Wednesday. Pelicans, as well as people, are sure to agree.

--Pete Thomas

Firestorm in San Fernando Valley, smoke on the water

The wildfire situation unfolding at multiple points in the San Fernando Valley is frightening, with at least two people dead. Automobiles on the 118 Freeway are dangerously close to flames and numerous homes are in jeopardy.

Fire crews have their hands full and good luck to them!

I'm watching on TV from my apartment in Redondo Beach. I smelled trouble this morning, when smoke entered my window. The air along the coast is grayish-brown and sunlight is obscured. The sunset tonight will look blood red -- beautiful yet eerie.

But thoughts and prayers are in order for people and wild critters in harm's way.

This is not too surprising, though. It's fire season, powerful winds are gusting, and more and more homes are being built in hills historically prone to burning. Because of this, fire crews are being taxed more than ever.

One of the fires may advance toward the Bell Canyon and West Hills areas. I lived in the original West Hills once upon a time and recall fighting sparks from our rooftop before the evacuation order came.

I recall being evacuated from junior high in Malibu Canyon and high school in Agoura Hills. Those fires, likewise, started in the Chatsworth area. At least one did not stop till it reached the beach in Malibu.

Back then, as a child and teenager, such events seemed exciting. Now they're ominous. Let's hope for stillness to prevail soon, so crews can gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, I'll try not to complain about the smoke-caused irritation I feel in my eyes.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo credit: Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times

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

Big Sur Valley is open for business, but fires' effects are felt

My colleague Peter Viles, who writes for our real estate blog L.A. Land, was in the Monterey area this weekend and had this to report on the effects of the nearby Big Sur fire:

"I was in Monterey Bay for a three-day vacation with my family, and we were definitely aware of the fires nearby. You could see the ash in the air in Monterey, Pacific Cove, and especially in Carmel, and from time to time the smell from the fires was pretty intense. It’s not the best time to visit; air quality is definitely an issue. That said, the area was hopping with tourists, and it seemed that all the businesses were open and the streets of Carmel were packed on Sunday.”

The situation in Big Sur seems to be settling a little, with the cool coastal fog giving firefighters a much-needed assist on the Basin Fire, the blaze closest to the iconic coastal town that has burned 39,606 acres as of 10 a.m. today. The Indians Fire, inland and southeast of Big Sur in the Ventana Wilderness area, has claimed 61,273 acres.

Closed: The Esalen Institute, the soul-soothing center that offers workshops on religion, healing and sex as well as hot springs and massage, will be closed at least until July 6, according to its website.

The building isn’t currently in danger, and some Esalen-affiliated folks remain at the site. The Esalen International Arts Festival, which could have featured a July 4 celebration and workshops beginning last weekend and continuing through July 6, has been canceled but may be rescheduled.

The website also says that fees are refundable upon request. Esalen will decide by July 2 whether or not to open workshops during July 6-11; check the website for information.

Closed: Henry Miller Memorial Library, Deetjens Big Sur Inn and Coast Galleries remain shut, largely due to the road closure along Highway 1 from Lucia in the south to Nepenthe (the restaurant is open) in the north.

Closed: Camping and day-use is shut at Andrew Molera State Beach (where they have fire crews set up in a staging area); Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Julia Pfeiffer Big Sur state parks remain shut. Also, Los Padres National Forest lands north of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are closed. 

The Big Sur Valley is open for business, according to Stan Russell at the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce. That means the Post Ranch Inn, Ventana Inn & Spa, Big Sur River Inn are all up and running, though many folks have canceled room reservations. But when asked about the upcoming holiday weekend, Russell said: "People have been canceling ... Fourth of July? I’m not looking out that far."

Below is a map by the Los Padres National Forest of the approximate areas the fires are burning (as of 10 a.m. today).

--Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Photo: A sign along Highway 1, top, by Peter Viles, Los Angeles Times]