Winds NOT expected to move fire towards Cottage

Severe winds out of the north materialized this morning, increasing in intensity across the front country of Santa Barbara. It made an aggressive push southward into Montecito. A Red Flag Warning remains in place until 10:00 pm tonight and may be extended. The good news is: tonight the winds have calmed and the fire is burning into the back country. There are more than 8,000 firefighters, nearly 1,000 fire engines, and night flying helicopters ready to protect property. The fire has burned 267,500 acres and is 40% contained, making it the third largest fire in California history.

The Cottage Health Incident Command Center and Disaster Response Team has been monitoring the safety of our facilities and received word from fire officials the fire is NOT expected to travel in the direction of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital (and neither are in evacuation warning areas).

The hospital is equipped with air filtration to remove particles and smoke (unfortunately, not smell), a sprinkler system, emergency generators and backup fuel for continuous electrical power. We have locked on the generators and are stocked with disaster supplies if the need ever became necessary.