Jesusita Fire

Seen from a commercial flight leaving the San Fernando Valley, the smoke plume from the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara doesn't look all that large. It's barely visible in the MODIS satellite imagery (see links below). But it's concentrated in a built-up hillside residential area that hadn't burned in a very long time. Whipped by strong winds, the fire has destroyed many very lovely homes. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has sustained fire damage as well.

Satellite Image Courtesy of NASA MODIS

Click image to enlarge

Other satellite images:
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 5th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 6th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 6th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 7th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 8th) [NASA]


Smoke plume spreading to the south.

Inciweb - Jesusita Wildland Fire [inciweb.org]

Fire Status:

• Acres burned: 8,733
• Percent contained: 98%
• Expected full containment: 05/20/09
• Evacuation orders and warnings: All were lifted as of 05/13/09
• Cause: Under investigation (please call 805-686-5074 if you have any information pertaining to how the fire started)
• Homes destroyed: 80
• Homes damaged: 15
• Outbuildings destroyed: 79
• Outbuildings damaged: 2
• Commercial property destroyed: 1
• Commercial property damaged: 0
• Total number of personnel assigned to the incident: 189
• Engines: 11
• Crews: 4
• Bulldozers: 2
• Water Tenders: 1
• Fixed Wing Air Tankers: 0
• Air Attack Aircraft: 1
• Helicopters: 2
• Firefighter injuries to date: 32
• Estimated costs to date: $20 million

List of properties damaged or destroyed [Santa Barbara County]

Santa Barbara County 2009 Press Releases [Santa Barbara County]

Google Maps - Jesusita Fire Evacuation Permieter
Google Maps - Jesusita Fire Zone
Google Maps - Jesusita Fire - LA Times map
Google Maps - Jesusita Fire Map

BELLEVUE, WA, November 16, 2006 7:45PM-PDT - Crane Collapse Kills One, Damages Buildings

Just as the crane operator was shutting down for the night, the unthinkable happened: it collapsed. Amazingly the operator survived his bumpy ride down. A resident of the apartment building across the street was not so lucky. He was killed when the walls and ceiling of his unit were crushed by the falling heavy steel crane. Microsoft identified the man who died as Matt Ammon, 31, a lawyer in the company's patent group.

Paul Leeper and Linda Rosario, residents in the unit below his were outside looking at the scene as I took these pictures. They described the experience as a loud rumble and explosion-like noise as the equipment impacted their structure. As they told of their ordeal, I was reminded of earthquakes. Only this of course was a lot more localized.

Local media coverage

Google Maps overhead view of the scene