Fire Destroys Homes and Sparks Evacuations in Goleta
By Jason Kandel, Rudy Chinchilla and Shahan Ahmed ••
The Holiday Fire in Goleta quickly lit up several homes and left behind only ashes. Jane Yamamoto reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on July 7, 2018.
Mandatory evacuations were in place Saturday as a brush fire destroyed homes in Goleta during a Southern California heatwave.
Firefighters responded to the blaze, dubbed the Holiday Fire, Friday night in the 1500 block of Holiday Hill Road. As a result of the blaze, Santa Barbara County declared a local state of emergency, effective for an initial period of seven days.
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GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: A charred statuette stands in the remains of a destroyed home in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Santa Barbara Country Fire Department
A Southern California couple who lost their home in a wildfire made a new happy memory Sunday July 8, 2018 amid the ashes.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
A couple found this wedding ring in the ashed of their burned out home following the July 2018 Holiday fire in Goleta.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
A burned hillside from the July 2018 Holiday fire in Goleta.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
A view of the damage left behind by the July 2018 Holiday fire in Santa Barbara County.
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GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: Firefighters spray foam on the remains of a destroyed home in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: The remains of a destroyed bike and scooter lie in the rubble of a home in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: The charred remains of a destroyed vehicle and home stand in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: Melted metal is seen amid the remains of a car engine near a destroyed home in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Getty Images
GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: The remains of a destroyed home stand in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Getty Images
GOLETA, CA - JULY 07: The remains of a car stand in front of a destroyed home in the aftermath of the Holiday Fire on July 7, 2018 in Goleta, California. The fire destroyed a number of homes in the community during an intense heat wave which broke various records across Southern California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
AP
The sun rises behind a home leveled by the Holiday Fire in Goleta, Calif., on Saturday, July 7, 2018. The fire began Friday night and destroyed homes as the flames burned some 50 to 80 acres. By Saturday, around 3,200 residents had been forced from their homes, with the city declaring a local state of emergency as structures continued to be threatened. . (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
Flames consume a home on N. Fairview Ave. as the Holiday fire burns in Goleta, Calif., on Saturday, July 7, 2018. The blaze has destroyed multiple homes. The fire began Friday night and destroyed homes as the flames burned some 50 to 80 acres. By Saturday, around 3,200 residents had been forced from their homes, with the city declaring a local state of emergency as structures continued to be threatened. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
AP
Eric Durtschi surveys the remains of home, leveled by the Holiday fire, in Goleta, Calif., on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Durtschi, who has six children, said he moved with his family from Utah two weeks ago. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
The sun rises behind a home leveled by the Holiday fire in Goleta, Calif., on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Evacuations were ordered as the fire edged into residential areas. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
Firefighters battling the Holiday fire stand atop a roof as the sun rises over Goleta, Calif., on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Evacuations were ordered as the fire edged into residential areas. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
A firefighter battling the Holiday prepares to douse a burning residence in Goleta, Calif., on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Evacuations were ordered as the fire edged into residential areas. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Some twenty structures had been burned or destroyed as of around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, and mandatory evacuations were underway for around 3,200 residents as the fire scorched some 50 to 80 acres, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
"The Holiday Fire is causing conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the County of Santa Barbara," the county said in a news release. "These conditions are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the combined forces of Santa Barbara County Operational Area to combat."
Officials with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management said that any residents on the mountain side of Cathedral Oaks should evacuate immediately downhill and away from the area as a precaution.
Firefighters made progress Saturday on the Holiday Fire in Goleta. Jane Yamamoto reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m.
The Santa Barbara Fire Department held a press conference on Saturday at 4 p.m. and announced that 80 percent of the fire had been contained and that there were no fatalities and no serious injuries due to the blaze. In addition, mandatory evacuation zones were expected to be reduced as of 5 p.m.
A Red Cross center was opened at Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Ave.
