Travel Tips

Wildfire Threatens Travel and Tourism to Santa Barbara, California

Locations in this article:  Los Angeles, CA Santa Barbara, CA

Smoky CoastSanta Barbara, California may be one of the most beautiful places in the country, but potential visitors may want to hold off on their coastal getaway.

The massive brushfire which has been raging in the hills above the city for the last two days has curtailed much of the usual visitor activity in the region.

The blaze, which has been dubbed the “Jesusita Fire” by local officials, is sending clouds of ash all over the greater Santa Barbara area and is causing intermittent power outages in the downtown area, which has caused problems for businesses and visitor attractions.

Many local restaurants, boutiques and cafés have simply decided to close up shop since customers seem to be staying away to avoid the smoky air. The northern downtown area is under a voluntary evacuation order, which has turned it into a virtual ghost town.

Streetlight and SmokeThe Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has issued an air quality warning for the region, and is suggesting that both visitors and residents limit time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise.

Many gyms have canceled classes, and the normally bustling beachfront bike paths are eerily devoid of cyclists and joggers. Mission Santa Barbara and the Museum of Natural History are two of the better-known tourist attractions that have closed due to the fire.

Though retail businesses and museums may be suffering from the fire, hotels are currently booming as both evacuees and firefighters seek shelter. Ten hotels are already reporting full occupancy, partly due to their relaxation of pet policies and their discounted rates.

Jesusita blazeSeveral hotel proprietors said that they have reduced their normal room rates as a gesture of goodwill to those who were forced out of their homes by the three-day old fire. More than 20,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and so far 75 homes have been destroyed.

Santa Barbara’s quiet coastal charm, colonial architecture, and nearby wine country attract thousands of visitors and billions in tourism dollars every year, but its geography and climate make it prone to fire.

Steve Cushman, president of the city’s Chamber of Commerce, said that the county is set to lose a fair chunk of revenue from the fire.

Sunlight Peeks Through Smoke CloudsThe majority of visitors come from around Southern California for day or weekend trips, and will probably stay away long after the fire dies down.

At the moment the blaze is only 10 percent contained, with no estimate on when it will be brought fully under control.

High temperatures and gusty winds have driven the flames from the hills above the city toward the city center in the last few hours, but the weather is expected to change over the weekend which may bode well for the firefighting effort.

Editor’s update, May 14, 2009: 

The Jesusita Fire has been 90 percent contained. The fires burned 8,733 acres in the Santa Barbara foothills and canyons between Goleta and Montecito and destroyed 80 homes and 79 outbuilding. Most tourist infrastructure was unharmed, and are open for business. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden sustained significant damage but will reopen on May 16. Some Los Padres National Forest lands are currently closed for safety reasons in the front country above Montecito, Santa Barbara and Goleta.  

By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com

Photos courtesy of Heidi Clever

Related links: Los Angeles Times, USA Today, NoozHawk, Pacific Biz Times, Associated Press

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