Jesusita fire: Thursday Night

If Wednesday night was bad, tonight is a thousand times worse.  As I type this just after midnight ash is raining all across the city as if a volcano had exploded.  The foothills above town are completely ablaze with flames going nearly all the way to the mountain ridge at the top.  The temperature is still 80˚ (26 c) and winds gusts up to 40mph.  Huge sections of the city are now under evacuation and the fire is moving so fast.  I crossed highway 154 just prior to its closing, and an hour later, the fire had already crossed it to the west and towards Goleta.  Homes are burning.  Simply awful out there; devastating.

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita Fire pics: Wednesday afternoon

Here’s a few more pics of the Jesusita fire from Wednesday afternoon while still at my brother’s house.  We had been evacauated on Tuesday afternoon, but managed to get back in on Wednesday to try and keep an eye on things.  By late afternoon, the fire was getting perilously close and most of the neighborhood had cleared out.   From or estimates looking at aerial photos and from driving around today, we estimate the fire got within about 200 meters.  The only traffic was from fire crews driving down Foothill road and police driving through the neighborhoods telling people to leave immediately.  The Mandatory evacuation zone had been moved down to State street, so we were well behind the lines.  The Temperature was somewhere near 100 degrees (37 C), as the “sundowner winds” were constantly changing directions, but mostly keeping the smoke just to the east of our location.  At times the sky was as black as night.

First few photos are with a 14mm lens.  It was that close…

First pic: Looking east.

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Thick clouds of smoke and ash fill sky over neighborhood

Corner of Foothill and Calle Laureles, looking towards Mission Canyon

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Dark smoke fill sky over Mission canyon as seen from Foothill

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Fire engine drives down Foothill road towards Mission Canyon

Fire crews driving east along Foothill towards Mission Canyon

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Fire crews drive down Foothill road towards Alamar in late afternoon on wednesday, May 6, 2009

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: helicopter flies against sky black with smoke

Schwarzenegger comes to Santa Barbara

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (I think everyone knows who he is) came to Santa Barbara this morning to give a press conference in regards to the Jesusita fire, which he declared a “state of emergency” on Wednesday evening.  The press conference was held at Earl Warren showgrounds, which is currently one of the main staging areas for firefighters who have come to the area to assist is the effort.

Thursday May 7, 2009: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger press conference on Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, California

Thursday May 7, 2009: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger press conference on Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, California

Thursday May 7, 2009: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger press conference on Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, California

Nightmare

For some perspective, the mountains on the left of the 1st photo are about 4000 ft. high.  It is absolutely devastating out there right now.

Jesusita fire santa barbara, ca. Night of May 6, 2009

Jesusita fire santa barbara, ca. Night of May 6, 2009

Jesusita fire santa barbara, ca. Night of May 6, 2009

Apocalypse Santa Barbara

The fire took a major turn for the worse this afternoon. I could see houses burning as I was driving away from my brother’s house, which is now perilously close to the western line of the fire. The entire city is completely covered in smoke. Large sections of town have now been evacuated. Looks like a war zone.

This afternoon, before we decided it would be best to get out of there.

Photo of thick smoke from Jesusita fire, may 6 2009, santa barbara, california

Photo of thick smoke from Jesusita fire, may 6 2009, santa barbara, california

Good luck out there everyone…

Santa Barbara

Nice day today. Seems I still can’t remember it’s 2008 though. Germany in 10 days…

panoramic photograph of Santa Barbara, California. © Cody Duncan Photography

Photograph of Pelican on beach in Santa Barbara, California. © Cody Duncan photography

View

Standing on a chair in my front yard. USS Ronald Regan at sunrise, a few days back. I’ll try and get on the roof next time.

© 2008 Cody Duncan Photography. USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier at port in Santa Barbara, California. January 2008

Santa Barbara Snow

It is a pretty rare event that we get some snow in the mountains here. My brother and I made plans to head up to the hills after he got off work this evening. We made it about half way up Gibralter before we were turned around by the police. Said we would get stuck. Only in Santa Barbara…

© Cody Duncan Photography. Santa Barbara mission with snow on Santa Ynez Mountains

USS Ronald Reagan

USUSS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier at port in Santa Barbara, California. January 2008

Bulldozer

Drove by this bugger the other day and thought it could make a cool photo, so I stopped by this evening. Didn’t quite get the shot I was looking for, need to bring a few more strobes nextime. Perhaps tomorrow.

bulldozer on beach in Santa Barbara California - Cody Duncan Photography

bulldozer on beach in Santa Barbara California - Cody Duncan Photography