While fire officials reported progress Saturday in containing the Scherpa Fire, they remained cautious, warning of hot and dry conditions predicted for the days to come.
As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the fire had grown to 7,811 acres, with 45 percent containment. Firefighters have made good progress in securing the western flank of the fire, while the north and eastern edge remained a concern. In addition, sundowner winds were predicted to be 5 mph stronger Saturday night than they were last night, with gusts up to 50 mph. According to reporter Ray Ford, there is also a growing understanding by firefighters in the field that the cause of the fire was due to use of a wood splitter on Rancho La Scherpa, though officials have not confirmed that yet.
At 6 p.m. Friday, the Unified Command — a collaboration of U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, and Santa Barbara County Fire Department — scaled up to be “Type 1,” reserved for major, complex incidents requiring national resources, several agencies, and full staff. Nearly 2,000 firefighters from across the state have been called in.