Tea Fire Contained

The Tea Fire, after burning 1,940 acres since the early evening of November 13, is 100 percent contained.

Work is still to be done, and 319 parcels remain under evacuation, while 210 residences have been destroyed and another nine have been damaged. There are still 756 firefighters and support personnel working on the fire, which thus far has cost $5.7 million. There are still 15 people at the San Marcos High School shelter.

The cause is still under investigation. Anyone can call the sheriff’s anonymous tipline at (805) 681-4171 with information.

Property owners anxious to find out the status of their property can visit the city or county Web sites, or call the emergency call center at (805) 681-5197 or the Red Cross at (805) 687-1331.

A Tea Fire Local Assistance Center has been jointly opened by both the city and county for those whose homes were lost or damaged. The information center, located at 1232 De La Vina St., will provide information about home rebuilding, water and sewer lines, housing assistance, mental health, and insurance. The center will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday.

The only remaining mandatory evacuation areas are West Mountain Drive between El Cielito Road and Coyote Road, and Gibraltar Road north of El Cielito Road to East Camino Cielo.

Areas that had been previously closed off can be accessed by residents with identification or mail showing a physical address. Residents may gain access at these locations:

Stanwood at Mission Ridge Road

Loma Media at Las Alturas

Las Alturas at APS

Sycamore Canyon at Five-Points

Las Alturas at Mission Ridge Road (no Conejo Road access permitted)

Rockwood Drive at El Cielito Road

El Cielito at Mount Calvary Road

Coyote Road at East Mountain Drive (south on Coyote restricted to residents only)

Chelham Way at Sycamore Canyon Road (westbound residents only on Sycamore Canyon)