An army of firefighters — on the ground and in the air — continued trying to tame the Lake Fire in the Los Padres National Forest on Saturday, contending with temperatures that reached the upper 90s later in the day.
The fire broke out Friday afternoon near remote Zaca Lake, and had blackened 4,674 acres by late Friday night.
As of early afternoon Saturday, the charred area had ballooned to 12,227 acres, with 0% containment, according to Capt. Scott Safechuck of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The U.S. Forest Service InciWeb website described the conditions on the Lake Fire as “extreme fire behavior with short-range and long-range spotting. The fire is burning with rapid rates of spread.”
Weather conditions overnight Friday into Saturday “were a real factor in the growth of the fire,” according to Andrew Madsen, U.S. Forest Service spokesman.
“Tonight we’re not looking at any of that,” he told Noozhawk.
Throughout the day, a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft doused the fire perimeter with load after load of retardant, Madsen said.
“We felt we really got a foothold with the retardant they laid down today,” he added. “That hopefully will allow us to pick up a corner and work from there” to build containment lines.
Smoke from the blaze was visible throughout the Santa Ynez Valley and parts of Santa Barbara County as firefighters from Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County and CalFire battled the blaze.
Flames move through the chaparral Saturday afternoon on the Lake Fire. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
A 737 air tanker lays down a line of retardant on the Lake Fire Saturday afternoon. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Crews battling the Lake Fire discuss strategy Saturday afternoon. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
A large column of smoke rises from the Lake Fire near the Santa Ynez Valley early Saturday morning. Credit: Mark van de Kamp photo 
Flames and smoke from the Lake Fire viewed from near Solvang early Saturday morning. Credit: Mark van de Kamp photo 
An oak tree is silhouetted by the orange glow of smoke from the Lake Fire near the Santa Ynez Valley on Saturday morning. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo 
Flames from the Lake Fire seen from a jetliner landing at the Santa Barbara Airport Friday night. Credit: Carola Nicholson photo 
An aerial view of the Lake Fire Saturday afternoon. Credit: Peter Hartmann / Noozhawk photo 
A 737 drops a load of retardant on the Lake Fire. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Flames roar up a hillside during the Lake Fire. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Hand crews play a key role in containing vegetation fires such as the Lake Fire. Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo 
Credit: Ryan Cullom / Noozhawk photo
“There’s an access issue as well with this fire,” Madsen said Saturday morning. “There are very few ingresses and egresses. We want to make sure those roads are open.”
Some 750 fire personnel were assigned to the blaze, with more likely on the way.
The focus of the fire fight Saturday appeared to be east of Zaca Lake along Zaca Ridge north of Figueroa Mountain, and in the Schoolhouse Canyon area north of Michael Jackson’s former Neverland Ranch.
Evacuation warnings remained in effect for Figueroa Mountain Road from the Forest Station to Chamberlin Ranch; and areas north of Zaca Creek Road, east of Foxen Canyon Road, and South of the Sisquoc River.
“All Santa Barbara County residents are encouraged to stay alert to local conditions by visiting www.ourair.org/todays-air-quality or fire.airnow.gov.”
The statement also said “Everyone, especially people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant women, and children, should limit time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise when high concentrations of smoke and particles are in the air.”
A fire camp was being set at at the Elks Rodeo Grounds in Santa Maria.
No structure damage or injuries had been reported as of Saturday night.
The following roads in and around the fire area are closed:
- Happy Canyon Road at the national forest boundary.
- Foxen Canyon Road at Zaca Station Road and Alisos Canyon Road.
- Figueroa Mountain Road at Midland School.
Cause of the fire was under investigation.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates on this story.
Noozhawk Executive Editor Tom Bolton contributed to this report.