SBC NEWS RELEASE:Tea Fire Burn area evacuation Downgraded

Evacuation Orders Reduced in Tea Fire Burn Area

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Reported by: Kelly Bush

JOINT NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SBC Tea Fire 08-29
November 26, 2008
12:00pm

County, City Downgrade Evacuation Order to Evacuation Warning
Sycamore Canyon, Eastside & Tea Fire Area Residents Urged to Remain Vigilant

Santa Barbara County and City emergency officials have downgraded the Evacuation Order to an Evacuation Warning allowing residents to return to homes. This warning will remain in effect until 10:00pm November 26 to coincide with the end of the Flash Flood Watch period issued by the National Weather Service.

Santa Barbara County originally initiated the County's Reverse 9-1-1 call system to alert residents in both the county unincorporated area and within the City of Santa Barbara. Emergency officials were particularly concerned with the situation because this is the first rain event after the Tea Fire occurred. Immediately after a fire, the soil geology can be very unstable and can become easily disturbed by rain.

An Evacuation Warning means residents should be prepared to leave should conditions change. The Evacuation Warning area includes:

• In the County (unincorporated) area, the Evacuation Warning area is bounded by:
• East and West Mountain Drive from Cold Springs Road to El Cielito
• Gibraltar Road from El Cielito to East Camino Cielo, including the Mount Calvary Road burn area
• Chelham Way along Westmont Creek and Chelham Creek

In the City of Santa Barbara, the Evacuation Warning area includes:

• Sycamore Canyon North from APS/Montecito Street to Stanwood
• Stanwood Drive west to El Cielito
• Conejo Road from Stanwood to Las Alturas
• Conejo Lane, Camino Alto, Orizaba Lane, Orizaba Road, Sherman Road, Eland Place and Mountain Drive east of El Cielito
  
  An Evacuation Warning in the Eastside south of the 5 points roundabout has been lifted. A warning is no longer in effect for:
  The Area bordered by Salinas Street on the east to Highway 101.
  Highway 101 on the south to Quinientos Street.
• On the west side:
  Quienientos Street north to Voluntario Street
  Voluntario Street west to Mason Street
  Mason Street north to Soledad Street
  Soledad Street west to Yanonali Street
  Yanonali Street north to Montecito Street
  Montecito Street north to Alameda Padre Serra/Salinas Street (Five Points)
• 
  In addition, the area south of the above, across Highway 101, is further described:
  Bordered by Highway 101 on the North.
  Por La Mar Drive on the west.
  Cabrillo Boulevard on the south and east to Los Patos Street.

Several roads previously closed as a result of the evacuation have also been reopened to allow residents to return to the area. These include:

• Highway 192 between Orizaba and Conejo Road
• Sycamore Canyon Road between Stanwood Drive and Five Points

Roads which will remain closed for an additional period include:

• Mountain Drive between El Cielito and Cold Springs Road will reopen at 2:00 pm
• Gibraltar Road remains closed at El Cielto
• The Sycamore Canyon Gates will remain closed due to the dangerous landslide potential in the area.

The Call Center previously activated by the County will close at 3:00pm on November 26.

Residents should pay attention to local National Weather Service (NWS) information, which provides Flash Flood Watches and Warnings both on the NOAA Weather radio, and on the NWS website at www.weather.gov/losangeles.

In the event of a large emergency or disaster, the County will work with all bona fide news organizations to distribute emergency public information. The County's "Stations of Choice" for emergency news currently include the following AM stations-KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KUHL-1410; KINF-1440, plus the San Marcos Pass Radio Station 1040-and the following FM stations-KCSB-91.9; KSYV-96.7; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7 and KRAZ-105.9. In addition, the Spanish language FM stations, KSPE-94.5 and KIST-107.7 are also designated "Stations of Choice" in the cooperative agreement with the County.

For more information regarding the emergency preparedness, go online to www.CountyofSB.org, or the cities' websites at www.santabarbaraca.gov . For emergency preparedness tips go to www.Ready.gov.