Blaze that started July 5 at Zaca Lake has spread to over 38,000 acres; most evacuation orders lifted as of Monday

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Fire crews have made progress over the weekend on a brush fire that has burned for nearly two weeks on the northern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Dubbed the Lake Fire, the blaze was first reported Friday, July 5, and has grown to 38,653 acres and is at 38 percent containment, according to the latest incident update by Cal Fire (fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire) at 7:12 a.m. Tuesday, July 16.

After growing from its starting point near Zaca Lake, the fire was split into a North and South Zone for crews as it expanded in acreage and personnel. The fire remains under Unified Command, with two fire camps to support firefighting efforts, with 3,267 personnel currently assigned to fight the fire. In addition to the personnel, multiple agencies have a total of 12 helicopters, 220 engines, 59 dozers 43 water tenders, and 106 crews assigned to the blaze.

A cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but the investigation continues.

Several evacuation orders were issued since the fire began, mostly in remote areas, but most have been canceled as of July 16.

The area the fire originated from is approximately 15 miles north of Los Olivos and approximately 20 miles east of Los Alamos. Highway 154, which ends at Highway 101 near Los Alamos is still open, and there were no indications it was threatened by the fire.

The blaze had also gotten close to the former Neverland Ranch, which was Michael Jackson’s residence, and the Midland and SYV Family schools nearby, but none were believed to be in danger.

The fire was apparent to residents, visitors, and businesses Thursday, July 11, in Los Olivos, the nearest town to the fire, but there had been no evacuation warnings according to residents, although information has been posted to a portable bulletin board sitting on the corner of Grand Avenue and Alamo Pintado Avenue. The same bulletin boards were also posted in towns around the Valley, including Solvang and Santa Ynez.

“We can see the smoke and the firefighters around town, but we haven’t had any warnings yet,” said a Los Olivos resident who was checking out the information on the board and chose not to be identified. “I’m just going about my day like everyone else here. I guess I’m just like Nero — fiddling while the area burns.”

Over at the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, two patrons at the bar said they haven’t gotten any evacuation warnings, but it has affected their work.

Terry Albrecht, who is a contractor said he had equipment he couldn’t get to because its stored in Woodstock, one of the evacuation areas.

“I can’t get up there to get my tools because that’s the fire area,” he said. “So we’re just taking it easy here.”

Albrecht, who lives in Buellton, and his co-worker Tom Reviea, of Los Olivos, said they haven’t heard any indications of an evacuation.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Reviea said. “They have trees and grass that burn efficiently, but no chaparral, which tends to be a bigger problem with fires like that.”

Although evacuations haven’t been ordered, the fire is affecting business at Firestone Walker, according to employee Sherri Bjorklund.

“We’ve had our business practically cut in half,” Bjorklund said. “However, the firefighters have been really good at updating us on conditions, and the info they gave us today looked good as far as them making progress.”

The firefighting efforts are under the Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, led by Incident Commander Joshua Boehm, and including USFS Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County Fire and Cal Fire, according to LPNF officials. Cooperators working on this incident include Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Department of Public Works, the Chumash Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and California Office of Emergency Services.

More information on the fire and evacuations can be found at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire or by calling the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (833) 688-5551.

Feature Image: Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Type-1 Hand Crew are shown Tuesday, July 16, on the backside of Figueroa Mountain near Los Olivos during the Lake Fire. Photo by Capt. Scott Safechuck/SBC Fire