Alisal Fire Update

Tuesday, October 19

• Fire officials report containment of the Alisal Fire at 93%.

• The Air Quality Watch issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, remains in effect.

Monday, October 18

• Fire officials report containment of the Alisal Fire at 80%.

• The Air Quality Watch issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, remains in effect.

Sunday, October 17

• Fire officials report containment of the Alisal Fire at 78%.

• The Air Quality Watch issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, remains in effect.

Saturday, October 16

• Fire officials report containment of the Alisal Fire at 50%.

• The Air Quality Watch issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, remains in effect.

Friday, October 15

• The Air Quality Alert issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, has been downgraded to an Air Quality Watch.

• In a message to the campus community, Chancellor Henry T. Yang shared information about air quality, UC’s policy related to air quality index and conditions that could lead to accommodations for students, faculty or staff.

• Fire officials report containment of the Alisal Fire at 41%.

• Hwy 101 is open in both directions. Motorists are advised to drive with care and be alert for emergency crews working along the roadway.

• The Air Quality Alert issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, remains in effect.

Thursday, October 14

• Hwy 101 is open in both directions. Motorists are asked to drive with care and be alert for emergency crews working along the roadway.

• The Air Quality Alert issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, remains in effect.

• Aircraft will be dropping flame retardant and water across the fire area throughout the day in support of ground resources.

Wednesday, October 13

The  Air Quality Watch  issued by the SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands, has been upgraded to an Air Quality Alert.

• An article on The Current explores why the campus is well situated during a brushfire.

• The campus and Isla Vista continue to remain under no immediate physical threat from the Alisal Fire. 

• University officials remain in contact with Santa Barbara County emergency management and fire officials and continue to closely monitor the situation and the air quality and will provide updates as necessary. 

• Hwy 101 remains closed in both directions between Hwy 1 and Winchester Canyon Road/Cathedral Oaks Road.

Tuesday, October 12

• The SB County Public Health Department and the SB County Air Pollution Control District have issued an Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County, including the Channel Islands.

• Santa Barbara County reports a fire west of campus in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County (northwest of Refugio Canyon). County fire officials are responding, and the campus and Isla Vista are currently under no immediate physical threat. Fire officials have indicated that the fire is not expected to threaten Goleta. 

• Campus officials are in contact with Santa Barbara County emergency management and fire officials and are closely monitoring the situation and air quality and will provide updates as necessary.

• Hwy 101 remains closed in both directions between Hwy 1 and Winchester Canyon Road/Cathedral Oaks Road.

Resources for Additional Information:

  • Santa Barbara County — Incident summary and details about evacuations, closures and shelter facilities.

  • Incident Information System — https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7862 

  • Cal Fire — Incident information, including weather conditions, closures and evacuation maps. A list of California Wildfires Statewide Recovery Resources can be found here. 

  • SB County Air Pollution Control District — https://www.ourair.org/: Information about air quality levels and warnings.

  • SB County Public Health Department(link is external) — https://www.countyofsb.org/410/Public-Health

  • Caltrans — http://www.dot.ca.gov: Information on current road closures.

  • Southern California Edison — www.sce.com/outages and www.sce.com/staysafe. Information about power outages.