Evacuation orders, power shutoffs and wind advisories issued as Alisal Fire rages in California
CBSN
Evacuation orders due to the Alisal Fire are still in effect as the 14,500-acre blaze continues to burn in Santa Barbara County. And officials are concerned that strong winds, which prompted a wind advisory for the area Wednesday, may stoke the fire's flames.
"This fire is a reminder that as summer winds down, our fire season ramps up," Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann said at a community briefing.
More than 1,300 personnel are responding to the wildfire, which ignited on Monday and was 5% contained as of Wednesday morning, local fire officials tweeted. The blaze closed down a portion of Highway 101 — a major route in Santa Barbara — and officials said Wednesday that reopening the highway is a priority for incident commanders, along with protecting oil production facilities along the coast.
