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Alisal Fire forces evacuations from forest to coast
Ordinance panel to consider wireless installation regulations By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO
Smoke billows into the sky from the Alisal Fire, as seen at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A blaze firefighters are calling the Alisal Fire burned an estimated 2,000 acres by 9 p.m. Monday. It originated just north of Alisal Lake, west of Goleta, and made one mile leaps toward the ocean. (Acreage estimates may change this morning pending better visuals, according to Los Padres National Forest spokesperson Andrew Madsen.) As of press time, the fire was 0% contained, and 100 structures were threatened. Firefighters battled 40 mph winds and 60 mph gusts along with the flames. Crews are blocking off the fire using natural fuel breaks. Firefighters have breaks on three sides, Mr. Madsen said. If the fire extends into Goleta, it will hit the Sherpa Fire burn scar, he said. The vegetation will not provide adequate fuel for
the fire, and firefighters can attack there. The fire was initially spotted around 2 p.m. Initial estimates measured the fire at 50-100 acres with potential for much more. By 4 p.m., evacuations were ordered for an area covering more than 30 square miles — extending from the peak to the ocean. A portion of Highway 101 and the railroad closed after spot fires began to reach the highway around 5:30 p.m. The evacuation orders affected the areas of Refugio, Tajiguas, Arroyo Quemada and Arroyo Hondo by dinnertime. Later Monday evening, evacuations were extended to El Capitán Beach State Park and El Capitán Campground, with the order including the area east of the state park, west of Dos Pueblos Canyon Road and south of West Camino Cielo Road as of press time. The chaparral in the area was thick — an area that hasn’t burned for decades. Fire crews initially struggled to find a point of
attack in the thick brush. “Los Padres is probably one of the national forests with the fewest roads,” Mr. Madsen said. “So we can’t drive right up with our equipment to drop firefighters off and work the fire that way. Then of course with these gusts of wind up to 60 miles an hour, you’re not going to put firefighters in the front of that.” The Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Santa Barbara City Fire Department and the Montecito Fire Protection District sent assistance. Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta served as a temporary information site for evacuees. Livestock were transported to the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. The temperature at the weather station nearest the fire measured 65 degrees and 30% humidity.
The emergence of 5G has brought more public attention to cell sites — devices some may desire to be nearby for increased connectivity while others despair for fear of radio waves. The Santa Barbara City Council Ordinance Committee may approve new regulations regarding the installation of small wireless facilities during its meeting today at 12:30 p.m. Small wireless facilities are often added to public property, like streetlights. Lately, neighbors have been voicing concerns to the City Council about the proposed additions. One resident appealed a city decision to approve the addition of a 4G facility in a neighborhood, concerned it would upset her garden. Others worry about cancer or other health risks from being exposed to radiofrequency fields. The World Health Organization does not expect public health consequences from exposure to 5G. International guidelines are to stay below radiofrequencies 300 GHz, no matter what generation the connectivity. “To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies,” the WHO says on its website. The city’s Small Wireless Facilities Ordinance has been under review for months. City staff initially released a draft in December 2020. Resident input, meetings with wireless companies and a 42-page analysis from a law firm guided changes. The Federal Communications Commission prohibits cities from controlling wireless facilities on the basis of alleged health effects. Appeals must also avoid mention of health. The city of Santa Barbara may only rule on the time, place and manner (including aesthetics) of the antennas. The proposed ordinance sets preferred locations and
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Santa Barbara Airport reports it wasn’t affected by Southwest Airlines’ cancelations.
this weekend — a fraction of Southwest’s nearly 30% cancelation rate, according to
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FlightAware. Southwest Airlines announced a vaccination mandate Oct. 4, and
Whitehurst brings arts and culture to mayoral race
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some speculate the cancelations could be a product of an employee protest of the policy. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association says that is not true. “Our Pilots will continue to overcome SWA management’s poor planning, as well as any external operational challenges, and remain the most productive Pilots in the world,” the union said in a statement. “They will continue to be focused on their highest priority — safety. SWAPA Pilots are true professionals and will always maintain the highest level of responsibility to their crews, their passengers, and our airline.” email: ahanshaw@newspress.com
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO
Dr. Mark Whitehurst joined the Santa Barbara mayoral race on the last day to file campaign papers.
Dr. Mark Whitehurst believes a larger arts and culture presence would grow Santa Barbara. “We need to take the energy that we have in our community as an art and cultural destination, and put a promotion behind that — one that accents all of the fantastic things that we have, to bring together both locals and visitors, to build up our community,” the mayoral candidate told the News-Press on Monday. The City of Santa Barbara established an Arts Advisory Committee in 1985. The City Please see CANDIDATE on A3
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email: ahanshaw@newspress.com
email: ahanshaw@newspress.com
SBA unaffected by Southwest Airlines difficulties Southwest Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights over the weekend and into Monday, but the Santa Barbara Airport has not experienced the nationwide problem. Two Southwest flights were delayed because of mechanical issues rather than a carrier issue, an airport spokesperson told the News-Press. The airline has attributed the mass cancelations to “air-traffic control issues and disruptive weather,” but the challenge appears isolated to Southwest Airlines. Other major budget airlines canceled just 2% of flights
allows applicants to justify less convenient locations. Preferred places would avoid residential or historic neighborhoods, schools and hospitals and have a reduced aesthetic impact on the community. Installed devices must submit confirmation that they comply with federal radiofrequency law. The ordinance also specifies aesthetic standards so the device blends with the area. In one previous case, an antenna was disguised as a faux decorative light fixture to blend in with the streetlights on State Street. Additional provisions, such as fire standards and insurance are included. The Santa Barbara City Council will hear a proposal from the Library Department to transfer its integrated library system from Black Gold, a program the library pays to manage the files, to an independent program. The first-year cost is $50,530, and each additional year is $21,900. The migration is estimated to take six months. Library staff believe the change is integral to service improvements. The City Council will also begin the planning process for a solid waste disposal contract. The 10-year contract with MarBorg Industries expires June 7, 2023. Laws have changed since the last agreement, so the next contract will likely look different. Meetings are streamed live on City TV Channel 18. To watch the City Council meeting online, go to santabarbaraca.gov/cap. To join the meeting and make a public comment, visit attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/8435190843049644301. The Ordinance Committee meeting is online at santabarbaraca.gov/gov/cityhall/ council/ordinance/videos. asp. To join the Ordinance Committee meeting and make a public comment, go to attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/1303526428363398157.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 13-21-22-32-43 Mega: 1
Monday’s DAILY 4: 6-4-0-9
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 21-24-36-40-70 Mega: 22
Monday’s FANTASY 5: 5-12-15-32-39
Monday’s DAILY DERBY: 08-02-01 Time: 1:43.62
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 12-17-30-45-62 Meganumber: 5
Monday’s DAILY 3: 0-4-8 / Midday 0-1-2