Single Publication

Lake Fire Start: Friday, July 5, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

Cause: Under investigation

Location: Near Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara County, north of Los Olivos, California

Size at time of update: 38,653 acres

Containment: 38%

Personnel: 3,267

Full Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

Media Assets: Official 2024 Lake Fire Photos and Videos
The Lake Fire is split into a North and South Zone: The fire remains under Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, CAL FIRE, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff, with two main fire camps to support firefighting efforts. 

North Zone Fire Report:  Firefighters continue to look for opportunities to go direct on the fire and build containment lines close to the fire edge around the Sisquoc River. Handline is being extended to connect the Schoolhouse Road to Zaca Ridge. Additional hotshot crews will be inserted into remote portions of the Zaca Ridge area via helicopter to be positioned to increase containment lines. Along the southeast portion of the fire, firefighters continue working to connect firelines across the less accessible portions of the fire edge. Crews have been successful in protecting natural resources even with significant dozer line construction and suppression activities.

South Zone Fire Report: Crews continued monitoring and strengthening control lines around the Lake Fire. Suppression repair work is beginning across the south zone, repairing and naturalizing dozer lines, installing water bars, and other work to repair any damage caused by suppression efforts.

Forecast Report for Tuesday: A gradual warming and drying trend starts Wednesday and continues into the weekend with daytime highs back into the 90s to around 100 degrees with lowering humidity values, especially at night above the marine inversion layer.

Donations: We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community. We ask that any donations or volunteer efforts be directed to local food banks to assist the community and those displaced by fire. Lake Fire Incident Command Posts cannot accept donations.

Updated Lake Fire Area Closure: The Los Padres National Forest has increased the area closure for lands affected by the Lake Fire. View the Closure Order & Closure Order Map.  This will remain in effect until August 18, 2024, or until revised or rescinded. 

Smoke: As air quality conditions improve, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) —Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have lifted the Air Quality Alert in the Santa Ynez Valley.  The Air Quality Watch will remain in place countywide, and air quality conditions are forecasted to be good to moderate throughout the county.

Evacuation Areas: The Santa Barbara County Sherrif has reduced some of the Evacuation orders and warnings:  See the most recent updates: https://www.readysbc.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-2024 Register for emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org.

 Road Closures: Visit the County Road Closure Map for more details.

• Happy Canyon Road at the Forest Service Boundary
• Figueroa Mountain just north of Midland School
• Forest Route 10N06 
• Zaca Lake Road east of Foxen Canyon Road