The Santa Barbara Public Works Department recently assessed the hillside that burned in the 7-acre Loma Fire and determined the soil conditions are stable and pose minimal risk of soil displacement or debris flows, according to the city.
“While large areas of vegetation were lost in the fire, the underlying soil conditions remain stable,” city officials said in a statement this week. “Therefore, immediate risks, ahead of seasonal precipitation, are considered minimal.”
The area will be reassessed every four weeks for any changes. As of now, the city plans to close Loma Alta Drive from Coronel Street to W. Canon Perdido Street to vehicles ahead of and during storms.
“While we don’t anticipate more than normal debris flows onto Loma Alta Drive during rain events, the road closure will be done as a precautionary measure,” the city said.
The Public Works Department will also place k-rail barriers on the downhill side of the street to contain runoff.
The hillside and conditions will be closely monitored in the event of rain, according to the city.
There will be an informational meeting in September to talk more about plans for the area, according to the city. No event details were available as of Wednesday.
Two buildings were damaged in the Loma Fire, which burned on Santa Barbara’s Westside neighborhood and TV Hill on May 20.
Santa Barbara city officials did not issue emergency alerts during the fire and the lack of official information about the response was concerning for nearby residents, who could see flames from their homes.
Evacuation orders were issued for the area, mainly uphill of the fire, and fire and rescue personnel went door-to-door in affected areas.
In a community meeting after the blaze, Fire Chief Chris Mailes said the department knew where the fire was moving, and that there wasn’t a risk to neighborhoods in the Westside.
Interim Police Chief Barney Melekian said the city needs to improve its messaging. “We knew where the fire was going, but the people down there didn’t know that,” he said.
A Santa Barbara man accused of starting the blaze faces arson charges in Superior Court.
City Updating Emergency Operations Plan
The city’s emergency operations plan is also in the process of being updated, according to Yolanda McGlinchey, emergency services manager.
The plan is revised whenever there is an activation of the Emergency Operations Center, or every two years.
Emergency operation plans include elements such as continuity of government, mobilization of staffing resources, mutual aid, and public information, according to McGlinchey.
The 2021 draft is available on the city website here, and comments are currently being accepted at the Office of Emergency Services at 805.564.5711 and EOCManager@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
— Noozhawk staff writer Jade Martinez-Pogue can be reached at jmartinez-pogue@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
