PINE MOUNTAIN, Calif. (Monday, May 11, 7:33 a.m.)—The Jesusita Fire currently burning in Santa Barbara can be viewed from the Mt. Abel (Cerro Noroeste) Road west of Pine Mountain. Kathleen Cecere sent this photo to The Mountain Enterprise using the www.245NEWS.com Breaking News site.

The fire began Tuesday afternoon, May 5. These are the latest facts as
of MONDAY, MAY 11, 2009 (7:00 AM)
FIRE STATUS
-Acres burned: 8,733
-Current Containment: 70%
-Expected full containment: 05/13/09
-Damage assessment (in progress): 77 residences destroyed, 60 outbuildings destroyed, 22 residences damaged, 69 outbuildings damaged
-Residences threatened (various levels of threat with respect to location): 500
-Commercial properties threatened (various levels of threat with respect to location): 0
-Personnel currently assigned to the incident: 4,104
-Engines: 403
-Crews: 110
-Dozers: 21
-Water Tenders: 37
-Air Tankers: 9
-Firefighter injuries to date: 28
-Cause: Under investigation
-Tip line: 805-686-5074
-Estimated costs to date: 10.8 million dollars

THE UNIFIED COMMAND TEAM HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR THE SAFE, STRUCTURED RETURN OF RESIDENTS TO THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES. THE CURRENT MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO AN EVACUATION WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY – ALL RESIDENCES WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREA: GARDEN AND MICHELTORENA, MICHELTORENA EAST, EXTENDING TO ALAMEDA PADRE SERRA (APS), ALAMEDA PADRE SERRA TO SYCAMORE CANYON ROAD, SYCAMORE CANYON ROAD (HWY 144) TO STANWOOD DRIVE (HWY 192), STANWOOD DRIVE (HWY 192) TO FOOTHILL ROAD (HWY 192), FOOTHILL ROAD (HWY 192) TO MISSION CANYON ROAD, MISSION CANYON ROAD TO LOS OLIVOS, LOS OLIVOS TO GARDEN STREET, GARDEN STREET SOUTH TO MICHELTORENA.

Residents OF THE ABOVE LOCATIONS may return to their homes and businesses. Please remember that an Evacuation Warning stills exists in the area. Returning residents and business owners are cautioned to remain aware of the potential for an evacuation order on short notice.

FOOTHILL ROAD (HWY 192) REMAINS CLOSED EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRAFFIC ONLY.

AS A RESULT OF THIS REVISION, ALL AREAS SOUTH OF FOOTHILL ROAD/STANWOOD/HWY 192 ARE NOW WITHIN AN EVACUATION WARNING AREA.

ALL OTHER EXISTING MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS AND EVACUATION WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT.

THE UNIFIED COMMAND IS CONSTANTLY EVALUATING THE SITUATION TO REPOPULATE AFFECTED AREAS.

ROAD CLOSURES

Highway 154 is closed at US Highway 101

Road Closure Hotline – 805-568-3006

Fire Update from Saturday, May 9

Fire Status
-Acres burned: 8,700
-Current Containment: 30%
-Expected full containment: 05/13/09
-Damage assessment: In progress – initial estimate is 80 h -Evacuations: Approximately 12,204 properties have been evacuated, affecting approximately 30,500 people
-Evacuations: More than 11,524 properties continue to be under an evacuation warning, affecting approximately 29,000 people
-Residences threatened: 3500
-Commercial properties threatened: 100
-Personnel currently assigned to the incident: 4,222
-Engines: 499
-Crews: 101
-Dozers: 33
-Water Tenders: 31
-Air Tankers: 11
-Helicopters: 13
-Firefighter injuries to date: 13
-Cause: Under investigation
-Air quality: Warning remains in effect
-Estimated costs to date: 4.3 million dollars
Everyone is asked to please conserve water !

Jesusita Fire Call Center – 805-681-5197

This is part of the May 08, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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