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: 37,472 acres

Containment: 19%

Personnel: 3,410

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 as the fire expands in acreage and personnel. 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 fire camps to support firefighting efforts. 

North Zone Fire Activity: On the north portion of the fire perimeter, the fire continues to slowly back down to the Sisquoc River. Due to increased humidity, fire behavior today will be subdued, allowing crews to work closer to the fire edge. The fire continues to be more active in the Davey Brown area, Ranger Peak and Goat Rock areas. The fire is moving as planned to the established control lines, with crews focusing on any spot fires escaping those lines. Ground crews continue to work with various aircraft as needed to assist with suppression tactics.

South Zone Fire Activity: Firefighters continue to make good progress mopping up hot spots and strengthening control lines on the Lake Fire. Firefighters have conducted firing operations to create a buffer zone in areas of the fire, and they continue to strengthen control lines, identifying and extinguishing any remaining hot spots within the fire perimeter. Today, crews continue to actively fight fire while working on strengthening containment and control lines. 

Forecast for Saturday: A 10-20% chance of mainly dry thunderstorms through the day capable of producing lightning strikes along with gusty outflow winds. Otherwise partly cloudy skies and slightly cooler with highs in the upper 80s to upper 90s. General winds Southwest 6-12 mph with gusts 20-25 mph but much stronger gusts possible with thunderstorm outflows.

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  This will remain in effect until August 18, 2024, or until revised or rescinded.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: The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have updated the Air Quality Alert which includes the Santa Ynez Valley and other areas in proximity to the Lake Fire. 

Evacuation Areas: 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 Road at 1/2 mile north of Highway 154
• Calzada Avenue and Brinkerhofff Avenue at Roblar

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