UPDATE (11:10 a.m.) - Police arrested Victor Hernandez, 23, of Santa Barbara on suspicion of starting the fire. He is also suspected of other recent arson fires in the city. Click here for the full story and further updates on this fire.
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UPDATE (9:27 a.m.) - Santa Barbara County Fire says the Loma Fire in Santa Barbara is now 70% contained. Crews from CAL FIRE and Santa Barbara County Fire are working to increase containment lines around the fire, which burned less than 10 acres, and put out hot spots. No word on the cause.
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UPDATE (6:32 a.m.) - After further mapping, Santa Barbara County Fire says the Loma Fire has burned under 10 acres.
Firefighters continue to mop up hot spots and contain the fire.
Two homes were damaged, neither was destroyed.
#Loma Fire- UPDATE- As daylight begins, FF’s continue to mop up hot spots and secure containment. Loma IC reports with GPS mapping, revised acreage has been revised to under 10 acres. Two homes were damaged, none destroyed. No injuries reported. Cause under investigation. pic.twitter.com/ldIJSfdkWb
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) May 21, 2021
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UPDATE (11:56 p.m.) - According to Santa Barbara City Fire, the Loma Fire is now 50% contained and has burned about 10 acres.
Evacuation order will be lifted at 12:30 a.m. Friday.
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UPDATE (11:30 p.m.) - Santa Barbara County Fire says firefighters are making good progress on the Loma Fire, but evacuation orders remain in place between Loma Alta Drive, Miramonte Drive, Cliff Drive and Vista del Pueblo.
Red Cross has resources set up at the Leadbetter Beach parking lot.
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UPDATE (10:50 p.m.) - Evacuation orders have been issued for the following areas due to the Loma Fire in Santa Barbara:
- 900 Block Miramonte Dr. to Weldon Rd.
- Isleta Ave.
- Arroyo Ave.
- Weldon Rd.
- Loma Alta Dr. from San Andres to Weldon Rd.
As of 10:30 p.m., the fire was 0% contained. It broke out just before 9 p.m. in the city's TV Hill area.
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UPDATE (10:32 p.m.) - Santa Barbara County Fire shared images on Twitter of a firefighting crew that extinguished flames that had spread to a large home on Via del Cielo.
#Loma Fire - SB County FF stopping fire that spread to large home off Via del Cielo in Santa Barbara. Fire still at 0% containment and evacuation orders still in place. Please stay out of area. pic.twitter.com/gU8ExRntp2
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) May 21, 2021
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UPDATE (10:10 p.m.) - Fire officials say the fire has burned 20 acres with a rapid rate of spread.
Multiple buildings, including homes, are threatened.
Evacuations have been ordered for Loma Alta Dr. and Miramonte Drive.
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(10:01 p.m.) - Firefighters were responding to a brush fire in Santa Barbara on Thursday night.
It was reported just before 9 p.m. in the area of Loma Alta Dr. and W. Canon Perdido St., also known as the TV Hill area.
Images from a PG&E camera showed flames burning on the hillside close to buildings, including the KEYT television studio.
Evacuations were reportedly ordered in the area, including at the TV station.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
