Communication outages continued in the Santa Ynez and Lompoc valleys on Friday morning after a wildfire near Buellton damaged key equipment affecting landline, cell phone and internet services.
After receiving clearance from firefighters to enter the area Friday morning, crews were on scene working to repair the damaged equipment, according to Kelly Hubbard from the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management.
Before communication companies could begin their repairs, Pacific Gas & and Electric Company crews must replace damaged power poles that also host other firms’ equipment.
A fleet of vehicles from PG&E, Frontier, Comcast and Xfinity were making repairs throughout the day Friday. Some workers were stretching cable.
A number of businesses have been affected by the outage, either being forced to close or accept only cash payments, Hubbard added.
OEM sent out a text alert at 3:13 p.m. acknowledging the outages but not offering any timeline on repairs:
“Due to impacts from the Riverview Fire, communication outages persist throughout Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, and the Santa Ynez Valley. Landlines, cell phones, internet, and 9-1-1 phone lines may be impacted. We are aware of reports of limited text messaging and cell phone coverage in the area. Public safety agencies are working with communication providers on solutions. Estimated service restoration is unknown at this time. If you have an emergency, text 9-1-1, call the Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (805) 683-2724, or go to a local law or fire station near you. Please share this information with neighbors and stay vigilant of surrounding conditions.”
Unofficial reports claimed the fire damaged eight utility poles plus melted 1.5 miles of fiber cable that will need to be fixed.
Buellton Vice Mayor David Silva posted on social media midday Friday that the fire damaged utility poles and fiber cables west of Buellton.
Restoration of full service for Buellton likely won’t occur until Friday evening or Saturday morning, he added.
Some service may return intermittently before it’s completely restored, he added.
The outage began Thursday afternoon as a 64-acre fire burned near Highway 246 and Riverview Drive after multiple spot fires were reported in the area.
Officials warned that telephone service interruptions were reported in the Buellton, Solvang, and Lompoc areas late Thursday afternoon, said Raquel Zick, spokeswoman for the county Sheriff’s Office.
Text to 9-1-1 service seemed to be functioning, she added.
The Sheriff’s Office 24/7 dispatch number can be reached by calling 805.683.2724.
On Friday morning, city of Lompoc officials said time-sensitive utility payments cannot be completed over the phone and must be made in person at Lompoc City Hall, 100 Civic Center Plaza.
This is especially important for new utility services or service reconnections, city officials said. Payments can also be made via the utility drop box at Lompoc Civic Center Plaza.
In addition, utility billing staff can be reached by emailing utilityconnections@ci.lompoc.ca.us. However, bills cannot be paid via email.
Outage Impacts
Santa Ynez Cottage Hospital was among locations lacking telephone or internet service, but reported radio communications still were operating.
Several businesses noted on social media if they had internet access, with Monighetti’s Farrier, Feed and Pet Supply in Buellton posting about setting up Starlink and encouraging customers to “come on down.”
At the Breadboard Deli and Sandwich Shop in Buellton, owner Maria Brizuela remained hopeful she would receive credit card payments she accepted Friday. Her point of sale system marked the transactions as pending, promising it would complete once internet service was restored.
Customers who tried to phone in orders were frustrated she didn’t answer, apparently unaware of the wider outage. She also didn’t receive any of the multiple online orders typically submitted during the day.
“People thought I was closed,” she added.
She opened the business at 373 Avenue of the Flags two months ago and is working to build her customer base.
“I’m trying to get more people to come in but with the phones not working, that doesn’t help,” she said.
Around the valley, some businesses closed. Others, such as The Habit Burger, accepted cash only, posting signs on the door and drive-through entrance.
“Technology nowadays — everyone loves it. At the same time, everyone hates it,” Brizuela said.
Meanwhile, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School had some fun with the outage, sharing pictures of Superintendent/Principal Kimberly Sheehan from her high school era, complete with classic 1980s hair.
“If Dr. Sheehan survived the ‘80s with no phone and no internet so can you!”