Santa Barbara County officials expanded evacuation orders on Sunday evening as the Lake Fire became the largest wildfire currently burning in California.

After sparking at about 4 p.m. Friday near Zaca Lake, the flames quickly raced across the dry vegetation, helped by high temperatures and low humidity.  

As of Sunday evening, officials said fire had blackened 18,996 acres, and crews had achieved just 8% containment. 

While teams had success on two sides of the fire, Figueroa Mountain Road remained the problem area, as the flames slopped over containment lines, according to Rick Marinelli, operations section chief for the incident management team.

“Major threats for the night are going to be focused on this piece, and the possibility of the fire moving south toward the structures,” he told the night shift at the 7 p.m. briefing.

Protecting the community of Woodstock will be a primary focus through the night, and incident commanders have set some action points that would prompt further evacuations, according to the leader of night operations.

The coastal marine layer will help firefighters at lower levels, but fire behavior trainee Dan Michael warned crews to be cautious at higher elevations.

“There is a massive grass crop out there that’s all cured out, and it’s been baking for days,” he added.

Despite a firefighting force of approximately 1,000 people and a fleet of tankers, helicopters and other aircraft, officials don’t expect the battle will end soon. 

“This is a long duration fire,” said Marc Peebles, public information officer for Incident Management Team 13.

On Sunday night, an evacuation order was issued for all areas from Figueroa Mountain Road at Junction Camp (including Tunnel Road) to the Chamberlin Ranch.

The order also covers all areas from Zaca Lake Road at Foxen Canyon Road north to the Sisquoc River, including east of Foxen Canyon Road to the 9000 block.

This area previously was included in an evacuation warning before officials upgraded it to an order.

The fire’s second evacuation order followed one issued early Sunday for an area spanning from the Grass Mountain Trailhead to the neighborhood within Sawmill Basin, including Tunnel Road and the Figueroa Campground.

Late Sunday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office issued a new evacuation warning for the areas north of Calzada Avenue, east of East Oak Trail Road, west of Happy Canyon, and south of the Sisquoc River.

An earlier evacuation warning for areas north of Zaca Lake Road, east of Foxen Canyon Road, and from the 9000 block and north to the Sisquoc River (including Rancho Sisquoc) remained in effect.

Residents can utilize the Santa Barbara County 2024 Lake Fire Incident Map to type in their address to see if their property falls within the highlighted areas. 

All residents in evacuation warning areas should remain vigilant. Residents need to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang.

Personnel and equipment came from throughout California, including San Diego, San Bernardino and Orange County in the south, and Marysville and Yuba City in the north.

Others came from Utah, South Dakota, Colorado and Texas.

Semitrailers full of supplies filled the fire camp at the Santa Maria rodeo grounds parking area, while the small city grew Sunday to include showers, a day sleeper area, kitchen and laundry facility.

As the aerial fire fight continued, the Santa Maria Public Airport attracted onlookers eager to watch the aircraft helping contain the fire — including the humongous DC-10 Tanker 911 — as they landed to refuel and load more retardant.

Multiple air tankers, helicopters and other aircraft were deployed to assist hand crews, bulldozer operators and more on the ground. 

Structure defense crews have been strategically deployed to protect buildings in the fire area as the flames posed a threat.

The flames moved toward a community with about 15 homes. It also burned on Sycamore Valley Ranch, formerly known as pop star Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.

One of four cabins south the Figueroa campground reportedly was damaged.

Midland School, which sits on 2,860 acres, relocated the last of its horses from the campus on Figueroa Mountain Road, and the students and staff left Sunday, according to a Sunday social media post by Hannah Nelson, Midland’s head of school.

Firefighters reportedly will use Midland as a staging point, sleeping in cabins and using the school facility for meals.

“I cannot express how grateful I am to this entire community,” Nelson said in Saturday’s update. “There has been such an outpouring of support from local folks offering places to stay, space to animals, and just expressing care and love for this place that has meant so much to so many.”

Several wineries in the area also were affected for what should have been a Fourth of July weekend of visits.

Zaca Mesa Winery said Saturday it had closed temporarily. 

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected and we are grateful for the brave firefighters working tirelessly to keep our community safe,” the Zaca Mesa post said.

Likewise, Andrew Murray Vineyards also noted the fire burning nearby. 

“We are closely monitoring the Lake Fire, our neighbors, and fellow wineries on Foxen Canyon Road. We extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible fire crews and personnel who are tirelessly working to protect our community,” the Andrew Murray Vineyard social media post said.

The winery remained open to pick up orders and for indoor hosted tasting experiences, according to the post.  

Firestone Vineyard and Winery also closed due to the proximity, but said the partner wineries Lincourt Vineyard and Foley Estates would remain open.