This story was last updated at 8:15 a.m. Friday.
The Alisal Fire started burning Monday afternoon in Los Padres National Forest in the mountains between the Santa Ynez Valley and the Gaviota Coast.
It was first reported near Alisal Lake and then burned over the summit toward the Tajiguas Landfill and crossed Highway 101 to Tajiguas Beach within three hours of starting, according to Los Padres officials.
It has burned more than 16,800 acres and a federal incident management team took over the response on Wednesday evening.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates on the fire and the firefighting response.
Evacuations
The Sheriff’s Department expanded evacuation orders and warning areas Thursday as the fire burned west.
Evacuation orders are in effect for the area west of Arroyo Hondo to the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 1, including Gaviota State Park.
Warnings have been issued for the Hollister Ranch properties, west of the blaze, and communities east of the blaze, in the Naples area, according to the most recent evacuation map.
An interactive map is available here.
The Office of Emergency Management said evacuees can go to the evacuation center at Dos Pueblos High School at 7266 Alameda Ave., for more information and temporary shelter and resources.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services said residents can call 805.681.4332 for evacuation assistance with large animals. Livestock can be evacuated to the Earl Warren Showgrounds at 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara. There were 70 horses sheltering at Earl Warren stables on Tuesday.
County Animal Services at 5473 Overpass Road in Goleta is accepting small animals. People have mostly dropped off chickens.
OEM has more incident information available at https://readysbc.org/alisal-fire/.
Road Closures
Highway 101 and the railroad tracks were reopened Thursday after a three-day closure due to the fire.
During the closure, drivers had to take the congested detour on Highway 154 over San Marcos Pass and through the Santa Ynez Valley for a north-south route through Santa Barbara County.
Check current highway conditions from Caltrans here.
Amtrak changed some routes and schedules due to service impacts from the Alisal Fire, with no service north of Goleta during the track closure.
Check schedules and routes for Amtrak Pacific Surfliner here.
Air Quality
Check real-time air quality from the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District at www.ourair.org/todays-air-quality/ and the EPA Fire & Smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/#.
APCD and Public Health officials issued an Air Quality Watch Tuesday for smoke and ash from the Alisal Fire and upgraded it to an Air Quality Alert on Wednesday evening.
Direct Relief has free N-95 masks available to local residents affected by the wildfire smoke at its warehouse in Goleta, 6100 Wallace Becknell Road, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.