Whittier Fire

Whittier Fire
Smoke from the fire covers the sky over Goleta.
Date(s)	July 8, 2017 (2017-07-08) -  ()
Location	Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County, California
Coordinates	34.567°N 119.953°W / 34.567; -119.953
Statistics
Burned area	5,400 acres (22 km2)
Impacts
Non-fatal injuries	9
Ignition
Cause	Under investigation
Map
Location in Southern California

The Whittier Fire is a wildfire currently burning in the Santa Ynez Mountains, south of Lake Cachuma, along Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County, California. Within several hours of burning, the fire had ballooned to over 5,400 acres (2,200 ha) as the fire rapidly burns pirmarily to the southeast towards the city of Goleta. The wildfire has resulted in evacuations of the Highway 154 corridor in the Lake Cachuma area as well as Camp Whittier.

Events

The fire, which was first reported at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, began burning in the Los Padres National Forest in chaparral that hadn't burned in approximately 70 years, according to officials. Reportedly ignited by a vehicle fire, flames jumped Highway 154 and proceed in a southeast direction towards the Santa Ynez Mountains. Eighty people, including mostly children, at Circle V Ranch Camp near Lake Cachuma were forced to shelter in place as when it became too late to evacuate. No campers or staff were injured. Throughout the course of the day, the fire had expanded from 330 to over 5,400 acres (22 km²) as containment sat at zero-percent.