Mobile Post: Apartment Fire on Haley and Bath
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UPDATE: This is a scheduled Fire Department training exercise. (thanks Rob Fredericks)
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UPDATE: This is a scheduled Fire Department training exercise. (thanks Rob Fredericks)
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According to employees at the Santa Barbara Independednt, the Indy's Editor in Cheif, Marianne Partridge just won her case against co-owner and Publisher Randy Campbell.
If you don't know the background on this story (drama), try the links below. I'll try to update this post later with more information.
Updated:
Indy Publisher Must Sell to Editor-in-Chief - Santa Barbara Independent
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Santa Barbara Independent legal battle takes center stage - Daily Sound
Indy in Limbo - Santa Barbara Independent
Santa Barbara will no doubt be watching with interest to see what happens at the Indy now that the shadow of the court case has lifted.
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Several people have been sending in their videos of the smoke plume from the Vasari Fire in the Funk Zone. Here are three more:
Thanks to (City2 blogger) Mike Harrington, of StoneYard Building Materials for the view from his yard on Garden & Yanonali, and to reader Carrie Barnes for the Grey St. perspective (photo and second two videos).
Video Courtesy of (City2 blogger) Mike Harrington (aka Mikey's morning surf report)
Video Courtesy of City2 reader Carrie Barnes
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Vasari Plaster at 121 Santa Barbara St, burned down this morning around 10am today (Monday). Owner Alex Conrad was said (by folks I talked to) to have escaped with minor burns. His dog, Spider also escaped with only light injuries. No one else was injured. The building, a 1930's WWII era quonset hut collapsed in under an hour. More photos and video to come soon.
UPDATE:
Here is some video of firefighters working on a persistent hot spot.
Official Press Release from the SBFD
SANTA BARBARA, CA – 6/6/2011 – At approximately 10:33am Santa Barbara City Fire crews responded to a report of a working structure fire at 122 Santa Barbara Street. The first engine arrived on scene at approximately 10:36am and due to the amount of smoke and flame immediately requested a second and third alarm. The first in crew determined based on the type of construction of the approximately 3000 square foot commercial structure that fire personnel were going to need to attack the fire from a defensive mode. This means that they have determined the structure to be unsafe for entry by firefighters and the strategy will be to protect all surrounding structures and attempt to contain the fire to the building of origin. There was a partial collapse of the structure. Firefighters were successful in containing the fire to the building of origin and controlled the blaze at approximately 11:30am.
A civilian adult male sustained burn injuries and was taken to the hospital. None of the injuries are considered life threatening. Additionally, one Santa Barbara City Firefighter sustained a back injury and was taken to get medical attention. There was also a dog that was rescued from the blaze.
The total response to this incident included 6 Santa Barbara City engines, 1 Montecito engine, the Santa Barbara City Fire Ladder Truck, 4 Chief Officers, and the Santa Barbara City Fire Hazmat vehicle.
MORE PHOTOS:
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For whoever is interested, Mayor Helene Schneider addressed the business community in the annual State of the City Address on Tuesday at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort. The event was hosted by the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Business First Bank, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and Marborg Industries.
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Curious about the possibility of earning myself a fresh Darwin award, I went down to the Santa Barbara harbor in hopes of seeing whatever mild tsunami side effects I could. I wasn't too worried about being swept away because there was only a gentle 'tsunami advisory' warning, which means (apparently) that it's best to stay clear of beaches and oceanfront zones, but that no major event was expected (Stearns Wharf remained open all day).
After arriving at the Wharf, I waited around for a while. First I noticed that the tide was especially low - which I wasn't really ready to attribute it to the tsunami (though a common precursor to giant waves is of course, water levels dropping rapidly). But the more I looked at the very familiar harbor waters, the more it was clear to me that whatever was happening wasn't normal.
When I got to the top of the wharf, the muddy brown water was gently moving out to sea. Nothing shocking.. but it was definitely moving south, out the mouth of the harbor. I've seen this kind of thing happen in other tidal zones, and even here in SB to a small extent (Carp salt marsh), but this was more pronounced and a little nerve-wracking considering the context. Still, I was willing to give credit to the bizarre weather.
After a cup of chowder, I walked again to face (west) the jetty. This time it was obvious something was up - that was not due to the stormy conditions.
The water inside the channel for the harbor was suddenly turbulent, choppy and swirling - in a pattern that I've never seen before. The dredge was almost totally exposed, and the tide had dropped (even) further. The 'Conception', which was headed into the harbor, had to stop in it's tracks half-way in, and do a full-reverse for several hundred feet to get back into the open ocean. Several other boats also aborted their plans to enter, as the harbor channel rapidly turned into a shallow muddy river.
The (native) couple I was standing with (who have lived here for 50 years, and were self-described 'thrill seekers') had never seen anything like it. My instinct (from every random tsunami film or article I've ever seen) was to head for the hills. So I did (after grabbing a piece of chocolate from the Wharf candy store). As I left, I noticed that the water level was starting to gently rise again, which was reassuring. Though I have to admit that I kept a paranoid eye towards the horizon for a while.
I am now sitting a few blocks away from the beach and monitoring Twitter for tsunami news (seems that it failed to become a wave and only hit Hawaii and California in the form of a small tidal surge..).
On twitter '@ihuntmidgets' summed it up it best: " I am totally disappointed that there have been zero Patrick Swayze sightings during this Tsunami"
On a serious note, I am glad to see that no one has been hurt this far north. And of course, our thoughts are with the people Chile during such a horrible time. At magnitude 8.8.. the tectonic plates aren't messing around. And we know all too well that here in coastal california, we're not immune to much nastier days.
This doesn't really do it justice. My poor camera-phone can't zoom.
Boats (that had been waiting off the end of the wharf) finally to re-entering the harbor.
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Just photos for now. More to come on the Cinema Vanguard Awards soon.
Attending: Christoph Waltz, Gabourey Sidibe, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Stanley Tucci, Peter Sarsgaard, Vera Farmiga.
How it probably feels.
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While driving up Chapala, I noticed a crew of totally drenched Santa Barbara Stagehands braving the El Nino wind and rain. There's a good article here (at the Indy's site) with a decent explanation.
I wonder if there will be any significant progress made before SBIFF? From the few words we exchanged before I ran for cover in my car, it sounds like nobody's talking with them yet. But they seem cheerful (and resolute).
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If you want to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, here are a a few ways to do it. Starting with Santa Barbara's own Direct Relief International, which is already doing great work in the region. Here is a link to their donation page.
Doctors Without Borders is also using a dynamic (and apparently very efficient) method to set up impromptu hospitals using reusable, inflatable lifeboat material. Their donation page is here. Pretty smart.
The Clinton Global Initiative is also very active in providing supplies and fund-raising support for earthquake victims.
One can only hope that after the dust clears, and (thousands of) bodies are buried, that the global community can help the people of Haiti rebuild in a more robust and sustainable way.
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Starting now at the Faulkner Gallery (7pm). More info to follow in the next few days.
Update:
City2 got mentioned in this Noozhawk.com article prior to tonight's forum:
"Online Journalists Say the Future Is Now" by Lara Cooper
you can also read her article about the forum here.
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There was a very loud sonic boom (more like a bang) this morning about half way through the 8am hour. Unless you took some sleeping pills or were laying in a sensory deprivation tank, you probably jumped this morning like I did.
After doing a quick search on twitter for 'sonic boom', I saw that the local twitterverse (twitterbarbara?) had indeed taken note of the bang.
I wish I could say that I had been glued to my computer all morning, faithfully watching streaming video of the landing (as I did during the Discovery mission directly following the Columbia disaster), but I wasn't. I was sound asleep having a dream about my friend turning into a monster and chasing me down some strange beach in Mexico, when I levitated out of bed because I thought a bus had slammed into my apartment building.
The boom/bang felt much louder than what I remember from childhood (I think Edwards Air Force Base hosted more shuttle landings in the 80's), though I do remember doors in my parents house doors shifting open and closed from time to time during shuttle re-entries.
Since you all probably heard/felt it. I'll spare you any more of my own impressions and instead list/quote a few amusing local twitterers reactions to it, and then a few fun 'sonic boom' links. Enjoy.
littlecassalina: got woken up this morning by a sonic boom!? wtf...i thought the world was ending
ScottStrandell: Thought I was experiencing a CA earthquake. Not exactly, it was the sonic boom from Space Shuttle Atlantis returning safely to Edwards AFB!
andisigrid: BOOM BOOM went the sonic boom from the space shuttle, hubby thought something fell on the house! HAHA
1jonmuir: @lorilyg the sonic boom seemed extra loud but it might be I had my bedroom window open
and my favorite (apparently from a local dog):
sbpuppy: Recovering from a sudden noise. The people called a sonic boom, whatever that is. I didn't like it.
Here's the NASA video from this morning:
Some Sonic Boom/NASA Links:
An article about the shuttle landing from NPR
If you use Twitter, I highly recommend following @nasa
Here is a cool list of NASA shuttle missions.
Here is a link to the Wikipedia page on Sonic Booms and the sound barrier.
And lastly, here is a really fun video that explains sonic booms by 'sciencemadefun':
• As an aside.. at the SB Tweetup on Thursday, many people were debating the inevitable 'inaccuracies' when events occur. While it is a supremely important conversation to have, sometimes the 'human response' (and initial reaction) is interesting (and even useful). I actually like hearing the local chatter, because it gives you a sense of where the public is at on any given issue/event - informed or not.
--thanks to latzinis for the use of the shuttle photo (which is I believe a picture of the launch - not re-entry).
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Ethan and I went out to the Red Cross Shelter at the MAC Center at UCSB. It felt a little weird being there to take pictures. We weren't capturing the flames, or even the homes of that some of these people lost. We were just witnessing a sort-of surreal purgatory. A purgatory full of people in their pajamas, wandering around an indoor hockey rink, eating, charging their phones, and witnessing big water planes spray orange fire-retardant on their neighborhoods. Though we weren't sure what we were expecting, most of them seemed a little bored and tired of waiting.
I spoke for a few minutes to a guy that I hadn't seen since high school. His story matched most of the others we've been hearing. He recalled thinking how much he thought it sucked that certain areas closer to Mission Canyon were being burnt, with that guilty excitement that many of us feel when something BIG happens in our town. Then the fire started racing west. Then they got the warning call. Then the Jesusita fire (if you didn't know this is spanish for 'Baby Jesus' you do now) jumped highway 154. Then it was time to leave, which he and his family did along with other stunned neighbors, and here he is, looking for a place to plug in his dead iPhone.
The Red Cross facilities are top-notch. They are well-staffed (and well-volunteered), clean, and internet equipped. There are even a bunch of plasma screen TV's set up here or there, each surrounded some mildly dazed evacuees in folding chairs and blankets.
There was even a second gymnasium that was all ready to go with several hundred cots, garbage cans, and stacks of bottled water in the corners. The Red Cross gets huge kudos for being so on top of it. Happily, because of their competence, there is very little else to report.
Here are some photos:
The Women's section (I'm guessing this was the quieter end of the rink).
Volunteer getting snacks ready.
Another Volunteer getting cozy with the staff.
Watching the planes drop retardant.
Watching the DC-10 big drop.
Navy? ROTC?
Volunteer texting.
Sheriff Bill Brown tours the facilities with entourage of Red Cross Staffers, journalists and officers.
The next gym, ready to go.
Shaka!?
Chancellor Yang and friends
Keeping busy.
Jesusita Fire PHOTOS from the past few days:
Night 4 Fire Photos from Hollister Ave, La Cumbre Vons, and Downtown SB
Day 3 Evening Fire photos from Loma Alta
Last night's photos of some pretty big flare-ups and ANS update
Dramatic Day 2 images from Loma Alta on the Mesa
Helicopters at the junior high, fire crews at Earl Warren Showgrownds
Night-fire pictures taken from downtown Santa Barbara
Keep up to date with the latest headlines from the Indy, Daily Sound, Nexus, Craig Smith, etc on the City2 Headlines Page.
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Not much to say except that the evacuation boundaries remain the same since my update late last night. Officials are encouraging people to 'not worry' as the fires are pretty far back in the hills at this point (though they look deceptively close). They're also making sure that anyone in or near a 'warning zone' knows they should be 'ready to go' at a moments notice should things (wind) change.
Fortunately, it seems like the cool, onshore winds are gently blowing the flames (which are still huge) up the mountains instead of into Santa Barbara.
Here is a regularly updated Jesusita Fire map along with shelter info, phone numbers, etc..
I took a few pictures at the shelter today, which I will upload later. For now, here are some night shots from this evening. We ate at 5-Points and shot some big flare-ups from the VONS parking lot. Then we drove out to a secret overlook near the freeway and Hollister.. And finally back to our downtown rooftop.
Timed exposure near secret Hollister spot.
Timed exposure near secret Hollister spot.
From the VONS parking lot
From our roof downtown
Another from Hollister Road.
PHOTOS from the past few days:
Day 3 Evening Fire photos from Loma Alta
Last night's photos of some pretty big flare-ups and ANS update
Dramatic Day 2 images from Loma Alta on the Mesa
Helicopters at the junior high, fire crews at Earl Warren Showgrownds
Night-fire pictures taken from downtown Santa Barbara
Keep up to date with the latest headlines from the Indy, Daily Sound, Nexus, Craig Smith, etc on the City2 Headlines Page.
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SANTA BARBARA - May 8, 2009 - 12:30am - In tonights press-conference, SB Sheriff Bill Brown said the Jesusita Fire is the "Worst Emergency Santa Barbara Has Faced in 25 Years"
The fire continues to move West along the mountains forcing new evacuations. The fire is still only 10% contained. Here are some numbers:
* 2300 Firefighters
* 246 Fireengines
* 62 Handcrews
* 10 airtankers
* 15 helicopters (with nightvision)
* 25,000 people evacuated
* 3 Ventura county firefighters hospitalized and are being treated.
* 11 Firefighters Injured
Direct Relief International will be at Loreto Plaza and Lazy Acres on the Mesa distributing Respiratory Masks starting at noon.
A Mandatory Evacuation Order is now in effect for all areas north of Cathedral Oaks Drive east of Highway 154 to San Jose Creek (Near Patterson Avenue), all areas north of La Colina Road between Highway 154 and La Cumbre Road, and all areas north of State Street between La Cumbre Road and San Roque Road.
Here is an updated MAP along with shelter info, phone numbers, etc..
School Closures:
• La Cumbre school • San Marcos High School
• Saint raphaels • La Cumbre school • San Marcos High
Hope School District: Hope School • Monte Vista School
Santa Barbara School Districts: Adams • Cesar Chavez • Cleveland • Franklin • Open Alternative • Peabody • Parma Center • Roosevelt • La Colina Junior High • Community Based School • Santa Barbara Junior High • Santa Barbara High School •Providence Hall High School Antioch • EF International • Brite Star Pre school • Mount Carmel in Montecito on East Valley closing at noon • Brooks Campuses in Santa Barbara • Bishop Diego
PHOTOS: See Links, Maps and Photos from earlier today, yesterday & last night:
Day 3 Evening Fire photos from Loma Alta
Last night's photos of some pretty big flare-ups and ANS update
Dramatic Day 2 images from Loma Alta on the Mesa
Helicopters at the junior high, fire crews at Earl Warren Showgrownds
Night-fire pictures taken from downtown Santa Barbara
Keep up to date with the latest headlines from the Indy, Daily Sound, Nexus, Craig Smith, etc on the City2 Headlines Page.
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Some more photos from Loma Alta. It's really sad to see the 'den' at the top of Gibralter burning.
Santa Barbara (aka Mordor) During Jesusita Fire on Day 3
Photojounalist Art Fisher
Smoke Soaked Sunset
Bizarre Smokey Lighting on SB
Onlookers
Towards the 154
Fire quickly ascending the mountain just west of Gibralter.
Not Viet-Nam. Santa Barbara.
Mount Doom?
Plane dropping retardant on Mountain just west of Gibralter Road
Smokey light making for a beautiful but anxious sunset.
The column of smoke is too wide to capture in one frame.
Loma Alta.
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