Gap Fire (2008)
{{Short description|2008 wildfire in Southern California}}
{{About|the 2008 fire in Santa Barbara|the 2016 fire in Seiad Valley|Gap Fire (2016)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = Gap Fire
|image= 2008 Gap Fire From Space.jpg
|caption=NASA satellite photo of the fire.
| cost =
| injuries =
| fatalities =
| reference = {{cite news|last1=Meagher|first1=Chris|title=Gap Fire Arson Arrest|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2008/nov/17/gap-fire-arson-arrest/|access-date=17 June 2016|agency=Santa Barbara Independent|date=17 November 2008}}{{cite web|title=Gap Fire|url=http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/1384/|website=InciWeb|access-date=30 August 2016}}
| date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2008|7|1}} – |{{End date|2008|7|28}}}}
| location = Santa Ynez Mountains, Goleta, California
| coordinates = {{coord|34.501|-119.863|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = USA California Southern
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Gap Fire in Southern California
| area = {{convert|9,443|acre|km2}}
| buildings =
| cause =Arson
| landuse =
| perps =A 16 year-old juvenile
| motive =
}}
The Gap Fire was a fire that burned {{convert|9,443|acre|km2}} of the Santa Ynez Mountains above Goleta, California between July 1 and July 28, 2008.
Background
The fire burned primarily on steep slopes above the community of Goleta. Dense brush that had not burned in over fifty years, coupled with steep terrain made the fire challenging for firefighters.{{cite web|title=2008 June Fire Siege|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/siege/2008/2008FireSiege_Appendix-I.pdf|website=CAL FIRE|access-date=14 August 2015|page=105}}
Progression
Initial efforts by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department nearly contained the fire before it broke loose.{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Ethan|title=The Great Gap Fire of 2008|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jul/10/great-gap-fire-2008/|access-date=14 August 2015|agency=Santa Barbara Independent|date=10 July 2008}} When the first engine arrive on scene at 5:32 p.m. on July 1, the fire was less than a quarter acre, but then winds came up and swept the fire over the ridge and down into drainage. By July 3 the fire had grown to more than {{convert|2000|acres}} forcing the county to declare a state of emergency. During the initial operational periods, the fire was driven downhill by Sundowner winds and burned to the edges of Goleta requiring the multiple strike teams for structure protection. After the initial 48 hours, the winds died down, allowing firefighters to begin working in the mountainous terrain to contain the fire.
Effects
The fire caused major power issues for residents and businesses in Goleta, Isla Vista, Santa Barbara and even as far south as Montecito.{{cite news|last1=Macfadyen|first1=William|title=West Goleta Residents Ordered Out as Gap Fire Grows to 8,400 Acres|url=http://www.noozhawk.com/article/0705_west_goleta_residents_ordered_out_as_gap_fire_continues_to_advance|access-date=14 August 2015|agency=Noozhawk}} Southern California Edison high voltage transmission lines carrying power to the region pass directly through the area of the fire. During the peak of the outages, over 150,000 customers were reported to be without power.
Response
Emergency response organization Direct Relief provided 35,000 free NIOSH N-95 particulate respirators to local residents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.directrelief.org/2008/07/two-day-distribution-provides-35000-particulate-masks/|title=Two-Day Distribution Provides 35,000 Particulate Masks|last=Hutain|first=Jenny|date=2008-07-07|website=Direct Relief|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-31}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2008 California wildfires}}
Category:2008 California wildfires