Cave Fire Grows Overnight to 4,100 Acres in Santa Barbara County

The fire is in the same general area that burned in a 1990 arson fire that destroyed more than 400 homes

A fire pushed by powerful winds forced evacuations as it grew to 4,100 acres overnight in the mountains north of Santa Barbara.

The Cave Fire started in the Santa Ynez Mountains near E Camino Cielo and Painted Cave Road. Around 10:45 p.m., the fire had grown to more than 3,200 acres and expanded to 4,100 Tuesday morning.

[NATL-LA] Photos: 'Cave Fire' Forces Evacuations in Santa Barbara County

No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for:

  • Fairview Avenue to the west
  • Ontare Road to the east
  • Foothill Road/Cathedral Oaks Road to the south
  • El Eamno Cielo Road to the north

Evacuation Warnings:

  • An evacuation warning was also issued for Highway 154 west to El Sueno, below Cathedral Oaks and Calle Real.
  • North of Foothill Road from Ontare Road to Gibraltar Road.

For an updated evacutation map, click here.

The Ventura County Fire Department said it was sending two strike teams of engines to the wind-driven fire, which adds up to 10 fire engines. In addition, the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operation were responding to the blaze with a Firehawk night water-dropping helicopter.

In 1990, a destructive 5,000-acre wildfire called the Painted Cave Fire burned in the Santa Ynez Mountains -- the same location -- damaging 427 homes and killing one. In 2000, a man was ordered to pay $2.75 million for starting the fire, the LA Times reported. 

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