Edhat Staff
Update by the edhat staff
12:00 p.m. August 29, 2023
The Mountain Fire is 90% contained at 2.3 acres, reports the County Fire Captain Scott Safechuck.
SBC Crew 12 will remain on scene to finalize mop-up and containment in heavy vegetation.
There are no reported injuries, no structures lost, damaged, or threatened at this time.
By the edhat staff
A brush fire in the Santa Ynez Valley prompted the evacuation of students at Midland School late Monday night.
At 9:41 p.m., Santa Barbara County Firefighters received a report of a growing vegetation fire in the 5100 block of Figueroa Mountain Road.
It was initially reported as approximately two acres moving at a moderate rate of spread up the hill away from Midland School, a boarding school located at 5100 Figueroa Mountain Road in Los Olivos.
Some students live on campus and were quickly evacuated from the area by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Depuites. All students were accounted for and there were no other nearby structures threatened.
The wind worked in favor of the firefighters, pushing the fire and smoke back towards the burned area, slowing the rate of spread. Bulldozers and helicopter resources were cancelled.
Firefighters stopped the forward progress of the fire at 11:48 p.m. with 25% containmnet.
The official cause has yet to be determined, but one source noted down powerlines in the area.
This is a developing story.
Aerial view from ALERTCalifornia fire surveillance camera as the fire gained momentum (courtesy)
Aerial view from ALERTCalifornia fire surveillance camera as fire crews tamped down the brush fire (courtesy)
Fire on Figueroa Mountain
By Amy Katz
A fire broke out Monday, August 28th, at 9:40 pm on Figueroa Mountain, devouring a few of the 2000 + acre grounds of Midland boarding School in Los Olivios, CA. High school Seniors were the only students on campus, and were evacuated from their cabins to a safer location on the campus where they sheltered together in place.
Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch across the street was also threatened. According to a Security Guard there, the ranch staff was very worried at the start of the inferno, but by 2:00 am felt the threat was gone, as the fire had largely been contained by firefighters.
Midland school has all students accounted for and they are ready to evacuate immediately if need be. Smoke can be seen floating along the mountain range at 3:00 am, but it is mild and the flames no longer visible: numerous fire trucks were seen leaving the area and only minimal crews were mopping up in the middle of the night.
