Although the Alisal Fire bulged out to the westside of its flanks toward Gaviota on Friday night by about 300 acres, incident commanders are now reporting the fire — which started last Monday — is now 50 percent contained. Yesterday, the containment number was 41 percent. With higher temperatures and drier winds expected throughout today, the plan is to bombard the western edge of the fire to keep it from spreading further west.
As of Saturday morning, the fire was estimated at 17,200 acres, up from 16,901 the day before. Placed at risk by the fire have been 438 single residence; of those four have been destroyed. In addition two outbuildings have suffered damage from the fire.
The evacuation area for the fire normally holds 878 individuals, and although evacuation warnings have eased up somewhat in the last two days — the freeway was reopened Thursday at 6 p.m. and Amtrak train service was allowed to resume just two hours before that — most evacuation orders remain in effect.