:Sherpa Fire
{{Short description|2016 wildfire in Southern California}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = Sherpa Fire
| image = File:SherpaFireBurnScar.jpg
| caption = The burn scar of the Sherpa Fire as seen from space on June 19.
| cost =
| injuries = 9
| fatalities =
| reference = {{cite web|title=Sherpa Fire|url=http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4786/|website=InciWeb|access-date=June 24, 2016|archive-date=June 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626125722/http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4786/|url-status=dead}}
| date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2016|06|15}} – |{{End date|2016|07|12}}}}
| location = Santa Barbara County, California
| coordinates = {{coord|34.53|-120.054|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = USA California Southern
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Southern California
| area = {{Convert|7,474|acre|km2|0}}
| buildings =
| cause = Under investigation
| landuse =
| perps =
| motive =
}}
The Sherpa Fire was a wildfire that burned in the Santa Ynez Mountains along the Gaviota Coast in the southwestern part of Santa Barbara County, California in June 2016. In a matter of hours the fire spread to over {{convert|1,400 |acres}} as the fire was propelled by downslope sundowner winds. This offshore northerly wind contrasts with the more typical onshore flow and sent the fire down the canyons towards the ocean with gusts of over {{convert|35 |mph}}. The wildfire resulted in evacuations at two state beach campgrounds and some residences together with intermittent interruption of traffic on a state transportation route.
Events
The fire was first reported shortly before 4:00pm on Wednesday June 15, 2016 in the Los Padres National Forest in an area that includes private inholdings.{{cite news |url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article84075137.html |title=Santa Barbara County fire scorches 1,200 acres along Gaviota coast |work=The Tribune and SanLuisObispo.com |author=staff |date= June 15, 2016 |access-date=19 August 2016}} In a matter of hours the fire had grown to over {{convert|1,400|acres|km2}}.{{cite web|last1=Magnoli|first1=Giana|title=Sherpa Fire Explodes to 4,000 Acres Overnight, Pushed by Sundowner Winds|url=http://www.noozhawk.com/article/firefighters_race_corral_sherpa_fire_before_winds_refugio |work=Noozhawk|date=16 June 2016 |access-date=24 June 2016}} According to the United States Forest Service, the fire was propelled by downslope sundowner winds which sent the fire down canyons in the Santa Ynez Mountains with gusts of over {{convert|35|mph|km/h}}. These contrasted with the typical onshore flow so the fire alternated directions between day and night as it continued to spread. As the fire grew, evacuations were ordered for El Capitán State Beach, Refugio State Beach and residences in El Capitán Canyon. Both a Red Cross evacuation shelter and a livestock evacuation center were established as the fire was burning in an area with a number of large ranches. As the fire ran down the slope, it forced the intermittent closure of the coastal highway designated as U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 along with regional and interstate passenger trains and freight service on the adjacent rail line.{{cite news |url=http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/update-highway-reopens-after-wind-driven-sherpa-fire-jumps-freeway/article_9bc84f44-c8ed-5c70-9aee-d527cf10c508.html |title=UPDATE: Highway 101 reopens after wind-driven Sherpa fire jumps freeway|date=June 17, 2016 |work=Santa Maria Times |first=Mike |last=Hodgson |access-date=19 August 2016}} The fire grew to {{convert|4,000 |acres}} overnight and destroyed the water system for El Capitán State Beach.{{cite news |title=Santa Barbara County declares state of emergency after wildfire grows to 4,000 acres overnight |first1=Joseph |last1=Serna |first2=Alexia |last2=Fernandez |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016 |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sherpa-fire-20160617-snap-story.html }}
File:DC-10sherpaFireDSC 7900-am.png
By Thursday morning, the smoke was visible as far south as South Bay, Los Angeles as well as in Antelope Valley prompting the Los Angeles Fire Department to issue a statement regarding multiple 9-1-1 calls being received for the smell of smoke.{{cite news|title=Smoke From Sherpa Fire Prompts Air Quality Advisory For LA, Orange Counties|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/06/17/smoke-from-sherpa-fire-prompts-air-quality-advisory-for-la-orange-counties/|access-date=24 June 2016|agency=CBS Los Angeles|date=17 June 2016}} On the evening of Thursday 16, the sundowner winds resurfaced and once again forced the closure of the 101.
On Friday morning, the Santa Barbara County office of emergency services declared a state of emergency for the region.{{cite news|last1=Bolton|first1=Tom|title=Crews Battling Sherpa Fire Catch a Break as Winds Fall Short of Forecast |work=Noozhawk |url=http://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_county_declares_emergency_as_sherpa_fire_continues_to_burn|access-date=24 June 2016|date=17 June 2016}} Additionally a Red flag warning was issued for the region effective through Saturday at 6:00am.{{cite news|last1=Garcia|first1=Ernesto|title=Sherpa Fire remains 93% contained, acreage dropped to 7,474|work=KSBY|url=http://www.ksby.com/story/32290213/sherpa-fire-remains-93-contained-acreage-dropped-to-7474|access-date=24 June 2016|date=23 June 2016|archive-date=24 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624110031/http://www.ksby.com/story/32290213/sherpa-fire-remains-93-contained-acreage-dropped-to-7474|url-status=dead}} While firefighters battled the fire into the weekend, they were aided by weather changes which included reduced winds and higher humidities as the red flag conditions never truly emerged.
On June 27, officials announced that the estimated containment date had been delayed until July 7.{{cite news|last1=Bolton|first1=Tom|title=Full-Containment Date for Sherpa Fire Delayed Until July 7|url=http://www.noozhawk.com/article/full_containment_delayed_july_7_sherpa_fire|access-date=28 June 2016|agency=Noozhawk|date=27 June 2016}} According to a Forest Service Spokesman, the final 7% of the perimeter was in extremely rough terrain that was close to impossible for hand crews or bulldozers to reach. Due to the difficulty of access the fire remained only 96% contained on July 9 and the estimated containment date was pushed back to July 21.{{cite web|title=Sherpa fire now at 96% containment|url=http://www.ksby.com/story/32397246/sherpa-fire-remains-at-96-containment|website=KSBY|access-date=9 July 2016|archive-date=9 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709142530/http://www.ksby.com/story/32397246/sherpa-fire-remains-at-96-containment|url-status=dead}} Due to favorable conditions, on July 12, the Sherpa fire was 100% contained ahead of schedule.{{cite web|title=Sherpa fire 100% contained|url=http://www.ksby.com/story/32429941/sherpa-fire-100-contained|website=KSBY|access-date=12 July 2016}} Because of the threat of flare ups within the burn area, patrols continued for several days.{{cite web|title=Sherpa fire finally reaches 100% containment; Patrols continue|url=http://www.noozhawk.com/article/sherpa_fire_reaches_100_containment|website=Noozhawk|date=12 July 2016 |access-date=12 July 2016}}
Effects
File:SherpaFireSkyCraneDrop.jpg
At the peak of the fire, nearly 2,000 firefighters were assigned to the incident.{{cite web|last1=Aredas|first1=Alysson|title=Firefighters Injured in California Sherpa Fire {{!}} Firefighter Nation|url=http://www.firefighternation.com/article/news-2/firefighters-injured-california-sherpa-fire|website=Firefighter Nation|access-date=24 June 2016}} Approximately 19 residents lost power as Southern California Edison was forced to shut down transmission lines that passed through the fire ground.{{cite news|last1=Aredas|first1=Alysson|title=Sherpa Fire 82 percent contained at nearly 8,000 acres|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local/sherpa-fire-70-percent-contained-at-nearly-8000-acres-35ca6f81-318e-1666-e053-0100007f662e-383796951.html|access-date=24 June 2016|agency=Ventura County Star|date=21 June 2016}}
More than a week after the fire broke out, Refugio State Beach reopened to visitors on June 26.{{cite news|last1=Martinez|first1=Alys|title=Refugio State Beach Reopens More Than A Week After Scherpa Fire Breaks Out|url=http://www.keyt.com/news/refugio-state-beach-reopens-after-scherpa-fire/40225322|access-date=10 August 2016|agency=KEYT|date=26 June 2016}} While no specific monetary assessment was made public, owners of the general store that services campers in the campground said they "lost a lot of business during the time the campground was closed."
Following the fire, the El Capitán State Beach Campground was expected to remain closed for weeks.{{cite news |title=Chumash firefighters work with archaeologists to protect vulnerable sites in Los Padres fire |newspaper=Ventura County Star |first=Cheri |last=Carlson |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=15 July 2016 |url= http://www.vcstar.com/news/special/outdoors/chumash-firefighters-work-with-archeologists-to-protect-vulnerable-sites-in-los-padres-fire-37751143--386556891.html}} The campground itself was not damaged but a water treatment plant that services the campground sustained major damage.{{cite news|last1=Palminteri|first1=John|title=El Capitan State Beach Water Repair on a Faster Track After Fire|url=http://www.keyt.com/news/el-capitan-state-beach-water-repair-on-a-faster-track-after-fire/40214048|access-date=24 June 2016|agency=KEYT|date=24 June 2016}}
Air quality advisories were put into effect on June 17 as haze and falling ash were visible in Los Angeles County.{{cite news|title=Air quality reaches unhealthy levels after fires blanket SoCal|url=http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/06/21/61831/air-quality-reaches-unhealthy-levels-after-multipl/|access-date=10 August 2016|agency=Southern California Public Radio|date=21 June 2016}} The Santa Barbara County AIr Pollution Control District released a statement that said, in part, that while winds are dispersing some of the smoke, there are still pockets of poor air quality as a result of smoky conditions.
Name
The fire, which started on La Scherpa Ranch, had its name misspelled in the first written dispatches of the incident.{{cite news|last1=Hayden|first1=Tyler|title=Yes, 'Sherpa Fire' Is Spelled Wrong|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2016/jun/20/yes-sherpa-fire-spelled-wrong/|access-date=24 June 2016|work=www.independent.com|agency=Santa Barbara Independent|date=20 June 2016}} While intended to be named after the ranch on which the fire started, the 'c' in Scherpa was omitted. According to a spokesman with the United States Forest Service, "once the name of a fire is entered into the national fire reporting and naming system, it can't be changed. Doing so would confuse administrators, make the name unsearchable in records, and so on."
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/5/# California wildfires on the US Forestry Incident Information System ] (InciWeb)
{{Clear}}
{{California wildfires lists}}
Category:2016 California wildfires