Every major block of native chaparral on the South Coast mountainside has burned in this century, with three exceptions. The Gaviota Coast from Arroyo Hondo to Refugio Canyon hasn’t burned since the 1950s, and there’s no record of when the Hollister Ranch last burned. But the biggest threat to lives and homes today, authorities say, would be a wildfire on the steep slopes that run from the foothills of the eastern Goleta Valley up to San Marcos Pass and down the other side to Paradise Road.
Much of the chaparral on the south-facing slopes here hasn’t burned since the devastating Painted Cave fire, a “sundowner” blaze that was set near the pass by an arsonist in June 1990. It still ranks as the most destructive wildfire in Santa Barbara County, with one fatality and 640 structures lost. In 100-degree heat, the fire raced down-canyon in violent winds and jumped all six lanes of Highway 101.
“Among the fire chiefs and firefighters, we’re looking at San Marcos Pass as the place where it’s inevitable — in a short amount of time, we’re going to see the next iteration of the Painted Cave fire,” said Rob Hazard, a County Fire Department battalion chief and deputy fire marshal.