The dirt oval at the Santa Maria Raceway serves as a parking lot for the firefighting vehicles as the Lake Fire leads to a second base camp.
The dirt oval at the Santa Maria Raceway serves as a parking lot for the firefighting vehicles as the Lake Fire leads to a second base camp. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo

The Lake Fire had burned more than 38,000 acres as of Friday night after crews worked overnight and through the day to limit fire growth in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley. 

Containment rose to 19% on Santa Barbara County’s largest fire since the Thomas Fire in 2017 and the largest California wildfire of the year.

The fire started on July 5 on Santa Lucia Road near Zaca Lake and has drawn in 91 crews and 3,411 personnel, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

County officials altered some evacuations Friday afternoon based on fire activity. They issued an evacuation order for the area west of Alisos Road, and includes parts of Estelle Vineyard Drive, Santa Agueda Creek, and Brinkerhoff Avenue, telling residents to “leave now.”

They also downgraded an evacuation order to a warning for communities on the northern edge of the fire: the area between 8721 Foxen Canyon Road and the intersection of Zaca Lake Road and Foxen Canyon Road. Foxen Canyon Road is this area is back open, they said.

Other evacuation orders and warnings for fire-impacted areas remain in effect.

For the most recent evacuation information check readysbc.org’s Lake Fire page.

Daily Update

Marc Peebles, a fire public information officer, said that normally when a fire increases in acreage there is a reduction in containment, but in this case night crews were able to maintain the fire and build a fire line. 

The fire has been active every day and at night. Because of where it’s located, certain elevations are above where the marine layer comes in, according to Peebles. 

The fire is still burning in the southeastern direction and also has grown on the north side on Thursday near Los Padres National Forest. 

Peebles told Noozhawk that the fire burned over a ridge back down into a large river drainage at the northern section of the fire Thursday night. 

The fire has stayed at the river and crews will be working on Friday to secure the area, according to Peebles.

A fire weather watch and excessive heat warning are in effect for Lake Fire area through Saturday night.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms in the Santa Ynez Valley and mountain areas, according to the National Weather Service. Daytime temperatures are expected to be in the 90s.

Fire officials said no significant changes to the Lake Fire were expected in the next few days.

A Lake Fire progression map shows Thursday's burn areas in red.
A Lake Fire progression map shows Thursday’s burn areas in red. Credit: Courtesy photo

Five firefighters have been injured since the beginning of the fire, with some being labeled as traumatic injuries. No civilian injuries have been reported.

No homes have been burned but four structures have been damaged, including three recreational residences and one outbuilding on forest land, according to Cal Fire. A campground was also reportedly damaged by the fire.

Crews conducting firing operations at the Sedgwick Reserve Wednesday during the Lake Fire.
Crews conducting firing operations during the Lake Fire in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley this week. Credit: Ray Ford / Noozhawk photo

The county Air Pollution Control District updated its air-quality alert to the entire Santa Ynez Valley. Most areas of the county had good or moderate air quality as of Friday morning. Residents are advised to monitor conditions for changes.

Residents can track real-time air quality through the county APCD page and federal fire and smoke map.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli contributed reporting to this story.

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.