Patterson Avenue Area Now Under Evacuation Order

"North of the Patterson curve" might not be language that clearly distinguishes the area to all residents. I grew up in Goleta, lived there for or 20 years and know that area well but have not heard "the Patterson curve" used to describe the area I think they are talking about, north of Cathedral Oaks where Patterson Avenue does indeed curve to the west, becoming an east-west road paralleling Cath Oaks.

Hoping to hear more about what the fire is doing tonight, from Mission Canyon it is hard to tell where the fire is moving except by inference from the evacuation orders. Is it moving south or east or north or in more than one direction? Is there a source that is updated frequently?

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********** From Webadmin: Here's an update received from the County at 2:11 am July 4

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE CORRECTS EVACUATION INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY ISSUED IN PRESS RELEASE # EOC 08-0713.

Santa Barbara County Emergency Management Officials are providing this updated information to help clarify the geographic boundaries for the series of Evacuation Orders and Warnings issued by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and Fire authorities due to changing conditions of the Gap Fire.

About 1,700 homes spread throughout the following areas or communities are under mandatory EVACUATION ORDERS:

Painted Cave, Hidden Valley and the Trout Club

West Camino Cielo, west of Highway 154, Kinevan Road and the Haney Tract.

Glen Annie and La Patera Canyons

From Glen Annie Road going east to just west of, but not including, San Marcos Road, north of Cathedral Oaks Road.

EVACUATION WARNING is in effect for about 250 homes north of Cathedral Oaks Road from Winchester Canyon Road to Glen Annie Road

An American Red Cross Evacuation Center has been established at San Marcos High School at 4750 Hollister Avenue at the intersection of Turnpike Road and Hollister Avenue.

As a reminder, an Evacuation Order means residents are being directed to leave their homes immediately. An Evacuation Warning means residents should be prepared to leave immediately if their area is upgraded to an Order.

Residents are advised to stay alert for additional information by listening to County Government cable TV station Channel 20, or the following AM or FM radio “Stations of Choice” for Emergency Public Information or other local television stations.

CHP closed Fairview going north at Calle Real and also at the Goleta Library. Looking at the flames from Fairview Ave we can see the fire coming down this canyon - I believe the evacuation order came in time.

I'm just off Patterson South. Lots of smoke and ash here, but I have power and can watch TV. I also have Cox internet service and can check this Independent site -- very good updates here. Also good big banner on the top of the site. Very nervous, but hoping all will be well this night for everyone.

We live South of Patterson, North of Cathedral Oaks and were evacuated about 8:30PM. It wasn't just north of Patterson Ave curve. I think it was north of cathedral oaks from Fairview to corner of Patterson/Cathedral Oaks.

No one seems to have got this right on any new channel.

The emergency guys showed up about 5 mins after the reverse 911 call and now I know what all those hundreds of firefighters/personnel are doing - must have seen about 50 on our way out. Very eerie. I hope our house makes it!! Can't really contemplate having no where to live.

I WILL BE AT THE FONT LINEWAITNG FOR THIS DAMN FIRE TO REACH THE GOODLAND..IT CAN TAKE ME BUT NOT OUR LAND......
...GOLETA WILL ALWAYS BE THE GOODLAND.....

I watched the fire all night from East Camino Cielo (until 11:30pm at least). While it tried to crest the ridge, it never did. I see no threat to Painted Cave at this time, so I'm wondering why they issued the evac order? When it first came out, the Wildland Residences Association voluenteer fire fighters said it was a mistake. But the county and/or forrest service insisted it was to. Must be they just want to get everyone out in case. Can't say I blame them, but it is a hardship on those that need to evacuate. Especially those with children, pets, and such. I'm packed and ready to go just in case.............

I went Buena Vista Nursing Home to check on my Mom about 8:30.
The Exits to Turnpike,Patterson,Fairview and Los Carneros were closed.
Had to get off at Hollister exit and swing back around to Patterson (Buena Vista)
Fire trucks and emergency vehicles were on Turnpike and Patterson over passes.
HEAVY smoke,ash and swirling heat filled wind made visibility difficult. I still had daylight to my right and black sky to my left.
Flames were licking the hillside just behind Tuckers Grove.
I saw the crews tucking vehicles around and about Wednesday.
When I left Buena Vista at about 9:10 power had been restored. All the residents and staff had been "masked" and the facility was being vacuumed into an air tight space. My Mom was OK. The smell of the BBQ outside was faint in doors.
The phones were down during the black outs.
When I left the building i had to walk all the way around building and the air was thick with muck.EXTREMELY irritating.
I think people should be prepared to "mask up" If they have any history of upper respiratory problems or heart problems.
The curve in the 101 created an optical illusion that made San Roque look like it was on fire.
We have opened our home to all friends in the fire area.
Earl Warren has opened their facility for large animals (horses) to be kenneled during the evac.
When I traveled back tot town ,Patterson was heavily congested. Road blocks to the north in every direction.
Theren was a run at Albertsons at 5 points.
D and C cell batteries were sold out.
People were being incredibly rude knocking into my son and I several times. One older man ran into me and then my son while shouting,"where are the candles, where are the candles". Another man shouted,"is there any where around her that nstill has alcohol to sell."
It was madness.
My poor son was so upset at how crazy people were acting.
I have been through tornadoes in the south, ice storms,earth quakes....generally people are community minded...but this fire has brought many peoples hidden demons right to the surface.
Please be careful out there!

GOLETA RESIDENTS, please keep up SPECIFIC COVERAGE of the Gap Fire so that OUTSIDE PEOPLE can get CURRENT UPDATES to ASSESS DANGER to their family, friends and beloved community.

Luckily I called my elderly mother who told me she was without power & asked if I 'd heard about the fire above Goleta. S.F. news reported nothing. So, Wed. nite I went on the internet & again Thurs. to get info & was disturbed at the meager facts available. It would've been helpful to see a map of the fire, it's progress, updated wind direction and speed, more specific info on endangered neighborhoods, etc to assess danger.
At 7:30 pm I called friends who live on a private lane north of Cathedral Oaks between Patterson and Old San Marcos Pass Rd. for an update and was shocked & horrified to learn they were frantically packing & leaving in anticipation of soon getting a call to evacuate. From the orange grove behind their house, they could see flames a ridge away. I was told that in the afternoon the fire had quickly moved east & that winds were picking up. Yet from internet news sources I thought the fire was still burning above the Los Caneros Rd. area. They could hardly breath because of the smoke. Thurs. I'll call all my Goleta friends. I'll check this blog in hopes of getting useful specific neighborhood information.
I lived through the Eagle Fire and the Painted Cave Fire and know how quickly foothill fires can spread & endanger homes. I had no idea how advanced the fire was & how bad the situation was from conventional news sources!