Updated at 10:30 a.m. on July 17, 2024.
The Lake fire is now 42% contained and has burned about 38,653 acres. More than 3,200 personnel are working to control the fire. No further growth is anticipated, according to local emergency officials.
More information about recovery resources, support for animals and evacuation orders and warnings is here.
Updated at 9:21 p.m. on July 14, 2024.
The fire is about 38,400 as of 7 p.m. Sunday and is at 34% containment according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Updated at 5:10 p.m. on July 14, 2024.
The fire has burned 38,523 acres as of 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and is still at 19% containment, according to Cal Fire. The fire has burned half of the 6,000-acre Sedgwick Reserve.
Updated at 5:50 p.m. on July 13, 2024.
The fire is about 38,300 acres and is still at 19% containment, according to Cal Fire.
Updated at 9:42 a.m. on July 13, 2024.
According to Los Padres National Forest personnel, the fire is currently about 37,400 acres. It is still at 19% containment.
Updated at 12:34 a.m. on July 13, 2024.
The fire is now more than 38,000 acres. It is at 19% containment.
Updated at 3:30 p.m. on July 12, 2024.
Evacuation orders have been issued for the area of KP Ranch west of Alisos Road, as of 2 p.m. People in these areas are instructed to leave immediately.
Updated at 8:27 a.m. on July 12, 2024.
The fire is now more than 36,700 acres. It is still at 16% containment.
Updated at 12:18 p.m. on July 11, 2024.
The Santa Barbara County sheriff has issued evacuation orders east of LaBrea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, south of the Los Padres National Forest boundary and north of the Sisquoc River.
People in these areas are instructed to leave immediately.
Updated at 11:47 a.m. on July 11, 2024.
The fire now split into north and south zones as it continues to expand. Two camps are under unified command to support firefighting efforts.
The evacuation shelter at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building has been closed, according to Red Cross Wednesday night.
Updated at 9:18 a.m. on July 11, 2024.
The Lake Fire is now more than 34,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. It is still at 16% containment.
Updated at 12:20 p.m. on July 10, 2024.
The fire has now burned more than 29,900 acres. It is still at 16% containment.
Updated at 5:32 a.m. on July 10, 2024.
The fire has now burned more than 28,900 acres. It is still at 16% containment.
Updated at 10:33 p.m. on July 9, 2024.
The Lake Fire has now burned more than 28,800 acres. It is at 16% containment.
Updated at 4 p.m. on July 9, 2024.
The Lake Fire has now burned more than 26,900 acres. It is still at 12% containment.
Updated at 1:07 p.m. on July 9, 2024.
An evacuation warning for the area of Goat Rock, Happy Canyon Road and south of Cachuma Mountain has been upgraded to an evacuation order.
People living in these areas are instructed to leave immediately.
Updated at 10:49 a.m. on July 9, 2024.
The Lake Fire has now burned more than 26,100 acres. It is still at 12% containment.
Updated at 8:42 a.m. on July 9, 2024.
The Lake Fire has now burned more than 26,000 acres as of early Tuesday morning. The fire is now 12% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Updated at 7:24 p.m. on July 8, 2024.
The Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County, north of Los Olivos is still 8% contained, and has burned more than 21,700 acres as of 6:45 Monday evening, according to Cal Fire. The fire was first reported late Friday afternoon near Zaca Lake.
Updated at 12:20 p.m. on July 8, 2024.
Santa Barbara County upgraded an air quality watch to an alert near the Lake Fire.
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and Public Health Department issued the alert in Los Olivos after detecting dangerous levels of smoke and particulate matter.
The rest of the county remains under an air quality alert, meaning conditions could change quickly and affect the entire region.
Residents are instructed to stay indoors.
Updated at 9:18 a.m. on July 8, 2024.
The fire has reached more than 20,300 acres as of Monday morning. It is still at 8% containment.
Updated at 7:49 p.m. on July 7, 2024.
The fire is currently at 8% containment. Evacuation orders have been issued from Figueroa Mountain Road at Junction Camp to Chamberlin Ranch and all of Zaca Lake Road at Foxen Canyon Road north to the Sisquoc River including east of Foxen Canyon Road, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.
Updated at 4:41 p.m. on July 7, 2024.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for the areas north of Calzada Avenue, west of Happy Canyon, east of Oak Trail Road and south of the Sisquoc River as of late Sunday afternoon.
Updated at 2:55 p.m. on July 7, 2024.
According to Cal Fire personnel, the fire has now reportedly burned more than 16,400 acres. The fire is still at 0% containment.
Original story published 1:17 p.m. on July 7, 2024.
An active fire that started Friday afternoon near Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara County has burned more than 13,000 acres this weekend. According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, structures are threatened and the fire is at 0% containment.
Early Sunday morning the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for the Figueroa Mountain Road area from Grass Mountain Trail Head to the neighborhood within Sawmill Basin, including Tunnel Road and the Figueroa Campground.
On Saturday afternoon, evacuation warnings were issued for Figueroa Mountain Road from the forest station to Chamberlin Ranch; and areas north of Zaca Lake Road, east of Foxen Canyon Road and south of Sisquoc River.
The “Lake Fire” was first reported near Zaca Lake north of Los Olivos late Friday afternoon. All individuals were evacuated from the Zaca Lake area.
People in evacuation zones should leave immediately. People in warning zones should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. People with disabilities, large animals or those who feel threatened should leave immediately, according to fire officials.
Los Padres National Forest officials said a full response crew is working to put out the fire alongside Santa Barbara County Fire and multiple aircraft. For more information on evacuation zones, visit ReadySBC.org.
Road closures include Happy Canyon Road at the forest boundary; Figueroa Mountain Road at Midland School; and Foxen Canyon Road at Zaca Station Road and Alisos Canyon Road. Residents in evacuation warning areas should visit Santa Barbara County’s website if they need a temporary ag pass.
The Red Cross has opened an evacuation shelter at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building, at 1745 Mission Drive. Water, food and support resources will be available.
Those who need sheltering support can call 805-678-3073. Those who need support with animal evacuations can call 805-698-0212, or fill out a form at this link, per Santa Barbara County Animal Services.
According to the Forest Service, “An excessive heat warning through next week continues to affect the fire with high temperatures, drying vegetation, and little relief at night.”
Fire officials say their top priorities are protecting life and property, and are reinforcing efforts to prevent the fire from spreading into communities to the south.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
