Whittier Fire Near Lake Cachuma Burns 7,800 Acres, 20 Structures Destroyed

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA — Mandatory evacuations have been issued after a brush fire broke out near Camp Whittier and Lake Cachuma Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The Santa Barbara County sheriff's office has issued a mandatory evacuation for all of Highway 154 from Armour Ranch Road on the west to Paradise Road on the east and including Paradise Road. A mandatory evacuation is also in place for W. Camino Cielo from the Winchester Gun Club east to Highway 154 Kinevan Road. Those who are in the area are advised to leave immediately and those are not are advised to avoid it.

The evacuation order was expanded last night to include Farren Road in Goleta.

For the rest of the area to the east of Paradise Road an evacuation warning has been issued. Those in this area should be prepared to leave.

The fire has burned 7,800 acres and is 5 percent contained as of Sunday morning. At least 20 structures have been lost to the fire on both sides of Highway 154.

The south evacuation shelter is open at San Marcos High School, at 4750 Hollister Ave. in Goleta and a north evacuation shelter is open at Santa Ynez Elementary, at 3325 Pine Street in Santa Ynez. Pet owners with small animals that can be evacuated may be brought to the Santa Barbara Humane Society at 5399 Overpass Road in Santa Barbara. Residents can call the Animal Services Hotline at (805) 681-4332 for large animal evacuations.

Officials are also asking residents not to call 911 or the sheriff for non-emergencies. An evacuation center is opening at 3325 Pine Street at 5 p.m. Another shelter at San Marcos High School was scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m.

Smoke from the Whittier Fire and the Alamo Fire have prompted an air quality warning in Santa Barbara County.

Image via Santa Barbara County