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
By Heather Navarro and Shahan Ahmed ••
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.
Santa Barbara Fire's Mike Eliason
"Fire activity blocks out the sun Tuesday morning as flames move north towards East Camino Cielo in the Los Padres NF."
Santa Barbara Fire's Mike Eliason
"Fire activity blocks out the sun Tuesday morning as flames move north towards East Camino Cielo in the Los Padres NF."
Santa Barbara Fire's Mike Eliason
"Smoke rises above the Los Padres NF with the Pacific Ocean in the distance."
Santa Barbara Fire's Mike Eliason
"#CaveFire- A Cal Fire S-2 makes a phos-chek drop near a home on the east side of Painted Cave Road Tuesday morning in Santa Barbara County."
Santa Barbara Fire's Mike Eliason
"Flames chew their way towards CA Hwy-154 early Tuesday morning east of Painted Cave Road in Santa Barbara County."
Mike Eliason
The Cave Fire in Santa Barbara County grew to more than 3,000 acres Monday night
Mike Eliason
A helicopter performs a water drop on the "Cave Fire" in Santa Barbara County on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
Firefighters work on spot fires on Highway 154 near the Santa Barbara city limits on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A miniature horse and its owner are evacuated from a home in Santa Barbara County on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
Firefighters battled a fire that grew to more than 3,000 acres Monday night on Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
Mike Eliason
A wind-driven fire in Santa Barbara forced evacuations on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.
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.
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.
#CaveFire- SBC assisting #LPNF with a vegetation fire on E. Camino Cielo near Painted Cave. IC reports 15 acres wind driven down canyon. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered. C/T 4:13 pic.twitter.com/gkiIJtrw6i
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