As of 7:30 a.m., the Cave Fire was estimated at 4,100 acres with zero containment. Six hundred fire fighters from multiple agencies were on it and at least 10 air tankers dispatched to beat down the flames that took off yesterday at 4 p.m. by San Marcos Pass and Camino Cielo.

As firefighters assess last night’s damage, it appears at least one structure — an outbuilding — has been damaged or destroyed. About 15,000 homes remain threatened, and authorities state that 4,170 evacuations have been documented.

Firefighters expect the fire to encompass up to 5,000 acres by the end of day two. The terrain is still and hard to access, fueled by chaparral standing six feet high and wild grasses about two and a half feet.

Last night at 10:30 p.m., Santa Barbara County proclaimed the Cave Fire as a local emergency. “These conditions are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the combined forces of the county’s operational area to combat,” the announcement states. “Additional resources have been ordered from out of the area, which have
been arriving all evening.”

Ethan Turpin’s work on Instagram (@burncycleproject) and on his website (burncycleproject.com)

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