Whittier Fire

Whittier Fire
A view of the flames from Goleta on July 14, 2017.
Location	Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County, California
Coordinates	34°34′01″N 119°57′11″W / 34.567°N 119.953°W / 34.567; -119.953Coordinates: 34°34′01″N 119°57′11″W / 34.567°N 119.953°W / 34.567; -119.953
Statistics[1]
Date(s)	July 8, 2017 (2017-07-08) -  ()
Burned area	18,311 acres (74 km2)
Cause	Under investigation
Injuries	9
Map
Location in Southern California

The Whittier Fire is a wildfire currently burning in the Santa Ynez Mountains, south of Lake Cachuma, along Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County, California. Within several hours of burning, the fire had ballooned to over 5,400 acres (2,200 ha) as the fire rapidly burns pirmarily to the southeast towards the city of Goleta.^[1] The wildfire has resulted in evacuations of the Highway 154 corridor in the Lake Cachuma area as well as Camp Whittier.^[2]

Events

The fire, which was first reported at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, began burning in the Los Padres National Forest in chaparral that hadn't burned in approximately 70 years, according to officials.^[1][3] Reportedly ignited by a vehicle fire, flames jumped Highway 154 and proceed in a southeast direction towards the Santa Ynez Mountains. Eighty people, including mostly children, at Circle V Ranch Camp near Lake Cachuma were forced to shelter in place as when it became too late to evacuate. No campers or staff were injured.^[3] Throughout the course of the day, the fire had expanded from 330 to over 5,400 acres (22 km²) as containment sat at zero-percent.^[4] Firefighters set up a command center at Dos Pueblos High School.^[5]

On the morning of July 9, the fire had burned 7,800 acres and was at 5% containment. Residents along Farren Road inside and west of Goleta were evacuated.^[6] 20 structures were destroyed, and a lot of evacuation was done along Highway 154.^[7]

In the afternoon on July 9, the fire burned down the Rancho Alegre Outdoor School.^[8] The fire remained "completely out of control", and sections of Highway 101 received evacuation warnings.^[9] Later that day, it was reported that over 3,600 people had evacuated as a result of the Whittier Fire. ^[10]

On the morning of July 10, the fire had burned 10,823 acres and was still at 5% containment.^[11]

On the morning of July 12, the fire had burned 11,920 acres and was at 48% containment.^[12]

As of the evening of July 14, the fire was at 52% containment and had burned 13,199 acres. Due to changing weather conditions, the fire spread westward.^[13]

On July 15, containment had dropped to 35% as the fire was pushed down the mountainside toward Goleta due to sundowner winds. It had burned 17,364 acres.^[14]

On July 17, containment was at 49% and the fire had burned 18,311 acres.^[15]

Gallery

• 
  Smoke from the fire covers the sky over Goleta on July 8, 2017.
• 
  A helicopter leaving the Whittier Fire, July 11, 2017.
• 
  Smoke cloud seen from Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, July 14, 2017.
• 
  An area the Whittier Fire had burned, July 17, 2017.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Whittier Fire.