Elena Rossi
Painted Cave is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California, located in the Santa Ynez Mountains. The community is made up of roughly 100 homesteads and many outlying settlements. Painted Cave has experienced several wildfires, including the 1964 Coyote Fire, the 1990 Painted Cave Fire, and the 2009 Gap and Jesusita Fires. While there have been evacuations and close calls, Painted Cave has not been directly destroyed by wildfires. However, the 1990 Painted Cave Fire, which began near the community, destroyed nearly 500 homes and businesses in the area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Barbara County, California |
| Date of Fire Incident | June 27, 1990 |
| Time of Fire Incident | 6:02 p.m. |
| Fire Location | Intersection of Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road |
| Fire Cause | Arson |
| Fire Department | Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department |
| Fire Extent | 5,000 acres, 427-440 buildings destroyed, 2 deaths |
| Community Evacuation | Yes |
| Community Destruction | No |
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What You'll Learn
The Painted Cave Fire of 1990
The fire began on June 27, 1990, and burned for five days until July 2, 1990. The day the fire started was a record-breaking hot day, with temperatures reaching 109 °F (43 °C) degrees. The high temperatures and gusting winds of up to 75 mph fueled some of the worst sundowner winds ever recorded, making the fire extremely difficult to control. The first engine arrived on the scene at 6:05 p.m., just minutes after the call went out, but the fire had already gained significant momentum.
The Painted Cave Fire moved rapidly, jumping U.S. Route 101 within two hours of starting and destroying residential neighborhoods in Santa Barbara. The fire was the result of arson, and investigators quickly traced it back to its origin. However, the case went cold for five years until 1995, when new evidence came to light. Peggy Finley, a former girlfriend of Leonard Ross, told her minister that Ross had confessed to starting the fire in an attempt to "burn out his neighbor" but that it had "got out of hand." A civil case was brought against Ross, and he was ordered to pay $2.75 million in damages.
The Painted Cave Fire had a significant impact on the community, with many people losing their homes and possessions as they fled for their lives. The fire also resulted in the destruction of the iconic Santa Barbara restaurant "The Philadelphia House," which never reopened after the fire. The Painted Cave community itself was not directly threatened by the fire, which primarily moved downslope and burned outlying areas. However, the fire served as a reminder of the constant threat of wildfires and the importance of preparedness and evacuation plans.
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The Cave Fire of 2019
On Monday, the 25th of November 2019, the Cave Fire broke out near East Camino Cielo and Painted Cave Road in the Los Padres National Forest. The blaze ignited amid erratic sundowner winds, which sent flames downhill towards communities in Santa Barbara and Goleta. The fire behaviour was described as erratic by Los Padres National Forest Fire Chief Jim Harris, who stated that the blaze would change direction and race uphill towards firefighters when the winds died down.
The fire threatened homes and prompted Santa Barbara County officials to declare a local emergency, with about 2,400 homes placed under mandatory evacuation orders. Steep, rocky terrain and dry grass and brush made it difficult for firefighters to combat the fire, which burned 4,200 acres. Engine teams defended homes in the fire's path, while bulldozers and hand crews worked through the night to create containment lines around the perimeter.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and no homes were destroyed, although one outbuilding was damaged. The cause of the blaze was unclear, but it occurred in an area that had not burned since the Painted Cave Fire in 1990. That fire, the result of arson, destroyed hundreds of homes and caused $250 million in damage.
The Painted Cave Fire of 1990 was a devastating wildfire that burned in the Santa Ynez Mountains and the city of Santa Barbara. Intentionally set near the intersection of Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road, it burned 5,000 acres, destroyed 427 buildings, and resulted in two deaths. Investigators determined that the fire was the work of an arsonist, although no one was criminally charged. The fire spread towards populated areas, with people evacuating frantically.
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Close calls and evacuations
Painted Cave is an unincorporated community of Santa Barbara County located in the Santa Ynez Mountains. The community is made up of roughly 100 homesteads, plus many outlying settlements. The local terrain is hilly, and numerous homes along Rim and Lookout roads approach or even overhang sheer cliffs.
Although Painted Cave has not been destroyed by wildfires, there have been several close calls and evacuations. The 1964 Coyote Fire came closest to destroying the community, but a wind shift spared it, after destroying eight homes. The 1990 Painted Cave Fire, which began near the intersection of Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road, destroyed nearly 500 homes and businesses in the area. The fire was caused by arson, and strong winds caused it to spread quickly, cutting a swath between Goleta and Santa Barbara and blocking all roads between the two towns. The fire resulted in two deaths, including one person who died trying to escape the flames. The Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1965 and operates several vehicles capable of off-road wildland fire response, including three "Type 3" four-wheel-drive brush trucks.
In 2019, the Cave Fire burned 4,200 acres and threatened homes in Santa Barbara and Goleta, prompting evacuations. The fire was pushed by strong winds and burned in steep, rocky terrain with dry grass and brush, making it difficult for firefighters to control. Engine teams defended homes in the fire's path, and bulldozers and hand crews worked to create containment lines. No homes were destroyed, but one outbuilding was damaged.
The Gap Fire and Jesusita Fire of 2009 also burned close to the Painted Cave community, but the comparative encirclement of the community by roads, which serve as supply lines and firebreaks, has helped protect it from destruction.
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The Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department
The Painted Cave community is an unincorporated community of roughly 100 homesteads and many outlying settlements in Santa Barbara County, located in the Santa Ynez Mountains. The community is served by Camino Cielo Road and California State Route 154, which provide access to the nearby Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara. The local terrain is extremely hilly, and the community includes the large Laurel Springs Ranch. The Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department operates within the community to manage day-to-day affairs and provide rapid response to fires and other emergencies.
The Painted Cave Fire started on June 27, 1990, at 6:02 pm, near the intersection of Highway 154 and Painted Cave Road. The fire was intentionally set and spread quickly due to high temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions caused by a long drought. The fire destroyed nearly 500 homes and businesses, resulting in one death and causing $250 million in damage. The Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department likely played a crucial role in containing the fire and preventing further destruction in the community.
The Cave Fire, which broke out in 2019 near East Camino Cielo and Painted Cave Road in the Los Padres National Forest, also threatened homes in Santa Barbara and Goleta. While no homes were destroyed, the fire burned 4,200 acres and damaged one outbuilding. The Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department's expertise in wildfire response and off-road capabilities were likely crucial in protecting the community during this incident.
Overall, the Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department plays a vital role in protecting the Painted Cave community from wildfires and other emergencies. Their off-road capabilities, rapid response vehicles, and local knowledge have likely contributed to the community's resilience in the face of numerous close calls with wildfires over the years.
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The community's location and layout
Painted Cave is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California. It is located in the Santa Ynez Mountains, specifically in the Los Padres National Forest, and is named after its proximity to Painted Cave State Historic Park. The community is served by Camino Cielo Road and California State Route 154, which connect it to the Santa Ynez Valley and the city of Santa Barbara.
The community consists of approximately 100 homesteads, as well as numerous outlying settlements. It is the highest and largest of the inholdings within the Santa Ynez Mountains, offering impressive views. On clear days, all eight of the Channel Islands can be seen from Painted Cave. The community is made up of irregular lots and does not conform to a grid layout, except in its centre. It sits atop a plateau and includes the large Laurel Springs Ranch. The terrain is extremely hilly, and homes along Rim and Lookout Roads are particularly close to sheer cliffs, with some even overhanging the cliffs.
The Painted Cave Fire of 1990, which began near the intersection of Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass Road) and Painted Cave Road, threatened communities in Santa Barbara and Goleta. The fire burned downhill towards these communities, and strong winds fuelled the spread of the blaze. The fire destroyed hundreds of homes in the area, including entire neighbourhoods, and resulted in two deaths.
The community of Painted Cave has had several close calls with wildfires, including the 1964 Coyote Fire, the 1990 Painted Cave Fire, and the 2009 Gap and Jesusita Fires. The comparative encirclement of Painted Cave by roads, which serve as supply lines and firebreaks, makes it a relatively easy place to defend against wildfires. The Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department operates several vehicles capable of off-road wildland fire response, including brush trucks and a fire retardant gel truck.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Painted Cave community has experienced several close calls with fires, including the 1964 Coyote Fire, the 1990 Painted Cave Fire, and the 2009 Gap and Jesusita Fires. However, due to its comparative encirclement by roads, which serve as supply lines and firebreaks, the community has not been directly destroyed by wildfires.
The Painted Cave Fire started on June 27, 1990, at 6:02 pm due to arson. It destroyed nearly 500 homes and businesses, resulting in the death of one resident, Andrea Gurka, and an unnamed state prisoner who was working as a firefighter. The fire was allegedly set by Leonard Ross in an attempt to "'burn out his neighbour', but it quickly spread due to high temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions, causing widespread destruction.
The Painted Cave community has taken several measures to prepare for and mitigate the impact of fires. They have a dedicated Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Department, which operates brush trucks, a pumper, and various other vehicles for rapid response and wildfire fighting. The community also has a Mutual Water Company that pumps water from the nearby Maria Ygnacio Creek to supply the community during fires.
Yes, in November 2019, a fire broke out near East Camino Cielo and Painted Cave Road in the Los Padres National Forest. This fire, known as the Cave Fire, burned 4,200 acres and threatened homes in Santa Barbara and Goleta, leading to evacuations. However, no homes were reported destroyed, and no injuries occurred.
