Update: Evacuation Warnings Lifted for Refugio Fire

Firefighters Halt Forward Progress of Vegetation Fire Started Late Thursday Night in Refugio Canyon

A vegetation fire broke out Thursday night, August 22, in Refugio Canyon north of Refugio State Beach, triggering evacuation warnings between the 1300 and 1500 blocks of Refugio Road and on Venadito Canyon Road. All evacuation warnings were canceled on Friday evening. | Credit: Scott Safechuck, SBCFD

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Firefighters continued to secure the fire perimeter in Refugio Canyon on Friday, August 23. | Credit: Los Padres National Forest

[Update: Fri., Aug. 23, 2024, 8:05pm] As of 6:45 p.m. on August 23, all evacuation warnings for the Refugio Fire have been canceled, and the fire is 60 percent contained, according to Santa Barbara County’s fire status update.

By late Friday morning, firefighters were able to halt forward progress of the blaze, which started late Thursday night in Refugio Canyon. The fire was holding at 86 acres as of Friday evening, according to an update from Los Padres National Forest, which noted that firefighters continue to secure the fire’s edge but “the process is time-consuming due to steep slopes and numerous fingers along the fire perimeter.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

[Original Story] Evacuation warnings were issued for parts of Refugio Canyon in the Gaviota area after a vegetation fire broke out around 11 p.m. on August 22. High winds overnight caused fire growth, which was listed at 86 acres and zero percent contained on Friday morning, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s Scott Safechuck.

Evacuation warnings are in place between the 1300 and 1500 blocks of Refugio Road, as well as Venadito Canyon Road. People with disabilities, access and functional needs, and large animals should leave now. Earl Warren Showgrounds was open overnight to receive large animal evacuations, but closed just before 5 a.m. Residents in need of animal evacuation assistance are encouraged to call (805) 698-0212.

Crews from the United States Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire, Montecito Fire, and Vandenberg Fire were on the scene overnight. The fire is now under unified command by the Los Padres National Forest and County Fire.

While winds have decreased since the fire began, the fire remains “dirty” according to Safechuck, meaning “there is still a lot of unburned fuel within the burn scar area.”

As of 11:53 a.m. Friday, forward progress has been stopped, according to a fire status update from the county. Fire crews remain on the scene to contain the perimeter.

For the latest information on evacuations and the fire’s status, see readysbc.org.