The Associated Press
LOS OLIVOS, Calif. — Residents of about a dozen wilderness cabins were allowed to return home on Friday as crews continued to make progress against a huge, stubborn wildfire in northern Santa Barbara County.
An evacuation order issued in late July for Peachtree Canyon in Los Padres National Forest was lifted after the fire’s southern edge stalled more than three miles away.
“There’s been no movement of the fire to the south in the past several days,” said Jim Lopez, a fire information officer.
However, about 600 homes remained in the fire’s path and several other small communities remained off-limits to residents. About 1,000 acres of forest remained closed to visitors.
The fire’s southern flank was about 12 miles from Santa Barbara, and health officials there asked for public help in identifying people who might need help if the coastal town had to be evacuated.
In recent days, favorable winds had kept the fire from advancing toward populated areas. Crews set backfires that successfully burned up brush in the fire’s path, depriving it of fuel. Those efforts were expected to continue for another seven to 10 days, Lopez said.
The fire still was advancing northeast in rugged country carpeted with century-old chaparral, Lopez said.
“It’s remaining in the backcountry and the wilderness. It’s not moving toward any inhabited areas,” Lopez said. “But the fire is still active and we’re still trying to get a handle on it.”
The fire has burned 123 square miles of wilderness since it began on July 4. It increased by 4,800 acres since Thursday morning and was 68 percent contained, Lopez said.
About 2,500 firefighters and some 30 water-dropping aircraft were working. Firefighting efforts have cost $59.1 million to date.