Santa Barbara

March Storm: Evacuations, Road Closure Updates

Evacuations were ordered in parts of Southern California as a storm bringing the highest rainfall amounts of the season made a final surge Thursday.

Scroll down for evacuation information, and road and school closure updates during in the March storm.

Evacuations in Santa Barbara County

  • Residents near the Thomas, Sherpa and Whittier burn areas were ordered to be out of the evacuation areas by noon Tuesday. Evacuations were to be lifted at 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff said at a news conference. 
  • Those in the Alamo burn area were under recommended evacuations, but those orders were to be lifted at 5 p.m. Wednesday as well.
  • An evacuation site is open at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. Large animals are welcomed.
  • Westmont College canceled classes for Thursday.

Evacuations in Ventura County

  • Matilija Canyon
  • North Fork
  • Casitas Springs, Nye Road and surrounding area. West: Hwy 33/South: Nye/Hwy 33
  • La Conchita
  • Upper Foothill Road area in Ojai
  • Voluntary evacuations that were in effect in the Kagel, Lopez and La Tuna Canyons fire burn areas were canceled. 
  • Mandatory Evacuations in the Creek Fire and La Tuna Canyon Fire burn areas will be in effect starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday for Kagel Canyon, Lopez Canyon, and Little Tujunga. In addition, the 8300 block to 9000 La Tuna Canyon Road will also be under a mandatory evacuation.
  • Temporary housing is available at Sylmar High School and Westwood Recreation Center Wednesday at 5 p.m. 
  • Large animals are welcomed at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Park in Sylmar.
LA County Public Works issued a voluntary evacuation warning beginning Wednesday at 8 p.m. through Thursday at 6 p.m. The orders were lifted at 5 p.m. Wednesday, but authorities reminded residents in the following areas to remain vigilant. They also said not to wait for evacuation orders if hazardous conditions arise. 
  • Country Club Drive east of Via Montana
  • All of Hamline Place
  • Groton Drive east of Kenneth
  • 830-849 Stephen Road
  • Irving Drive (between Kenneth and Joaquin)
  • 2906 & 2934 Olney Place
  • 2934 Remy Place
  • 2949 Mystic View Place
  • 3430-3436 Brace Canyon Road
  • 3301-3310 Brookshire Court
  • 3318, 3321 & 3322, 3422 Wedgewood Court
  • 3514-3519 Folkstone Court
  • 3529-3530 Castleman Lane

Evacuation Site for Burbank: Verdugo Recreation Center at 3201 W Verdugo Ave. The Center can’t accommodate animals.

Riverside County

  • Mandatory evacuations ordered for the Canyon Fire area were lifted Wednesday at 4 p.m. The mandatory evacuation was for homes on or near recently burned slopes. Residents were encouraged to continue to monitor news reports on evacuation orders throughout the storm. 

No Parking in Burbank

The following streets will be no parking zones beginning Wednesday at 8 a.m. Friday, March 23 at 8 a.m.

  • Country Club Drive east of Via Montana
  • All of Hamline Place
  • Groton Drive east of Kenneth

Sandbags for Burbank Residents

Sandbags are available at Fire Station 16 located at 1600 N Bel Aire Drive. Sand to fill the bags is located at Brace Canyon Park, located at 2901 Haven Way. Authorities as that you bring your own shovel.

For more inforamtion, residents can call City Public Works 7 a.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Thursday, March 22 at (818) 238-3800. You can also follow the city's Facebook and Twitter accounts, or go the its websites: www.burbankca.gov, and www.ReadyBurbank.org/latuna

Road Closures

  • Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties: The 101 Freeway is open until further notice. The CHP will monitor the storm to determine if public safety is at risk.
  • Highway 33 is closed north of Ojai Valley between Fairview Road and Lockwood Valley Road. 
  • A tree down at 4227 Bluebell Avenue in Studio City blocked the road Tuesday. 
  • All lanes on Luna Tuna Canyon Road in Simi Valley are closed after Sunland Boulevard and the 210 Freeway.
  • State Route 18 is closed form Snow Valley to Big Bear Dam.

School Closures

Mandatory evacuations in Ventura County:
The following evacuations are in effect Tuesday at 12 p.m.:
Matilija Canyon (North of Ojai Valley)
North Fork (North of Ojai Valley)
Vista Fire Burn Area (South end of Ojai Valley)
Nye Road, West: Hwy 33, South: Nye/Hwy 33
La Conchita
Voluntary evacuations:
Casitas Pass Road / East: Santa Ana Road / West: Rincon Road
Ojai Road / East: Thomas Aquinas / West: Reeves Road
Ojai Road / North: Thomas Aquinas / South: Bridge Road
East Ojai / West: Gridley Road / East: Reeves Road
A map of the evacuation zones can be viewed here.
Evacuation centers are being set up at:
Earl Warren Showgrounds/Ventura College, opens at 12 p.m. Tuesday; For animals, call county animal services at 805-681-4332 to get instructions on evacuating animals.
The Red Cross will open an evacuation center at Earl Warren Showgrounds, Warren Hall, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, at noon on Tuesday.
The 101 Freeway is open until further notice. The CHP will monitor the storm to determine if public safety is at risk.
If further information needed, contact individual schools/districts.
Visit the "Schools and Districts" tab/dropdown menu at http://SBCEO.org for contacts.
For all information, go to readysbc.org

Santa Barbara County Education Office said all schools would reopen Friday. 
Ventura County Office of Education announced Wednesday that the following schools would reopen for normal operation Friday. 

  • Santa Paula Unified School District
  • Ventura High School, DATA Middle School and Loma Vista Elementary School
  • Ojai Unified School District
  • Briggs Elementary School District
  • VCOE special education classrooms at Ventura High School
  • VCOE Ojai TEAMS site at Nordhoff High School

 Vinedale Elementary School will be relocating Thursday to Glenwood Elementary at 8001 Ledge Ave. Both campuses are in Sun Valley.

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