Santa Barbara County Is Open for Business



The Gap Fire, which burned 9,443 acres of forest and ranch lands north of Goleta, is 90 percent contained and 100 percent containment is forecasted for the week of July 20th. All populated areas are safe, according to Captain Eli Iskow, Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Air quality has returned to "Moderate" to "Good" throughout all of the county, with the exception of Goleta, where a precautionary advisory is in place due to higher particle pollution levels.

"Santa Barbara County is open for business. We're grateful to all of the firefighters who worked so hard to contain this fire and keep our area safe for residents and visitors," said Kathy Janega-Dykes, President & CEO of the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau (http://www.santabarbaraca.com/) and Film Commission. "Thankfully, the visitor experience has been and continues to be largely unaffected by the fires. Visitors can continue to safely enjoy our hotels and attractions, including beaches, wineries, museums, historic sites, golf courses, nature preserves and much more."

Some portions of the Los Padres National Forest remain closed for safety reasons, which impacts downhill mountain biking, hiking and bouldering enthusiasts who typically access the national forest lands south of Highway 154 and East Camino Cielo between Gibraltar Road and Refugio Road. Those national forest lands, trails, roads and recreation sites-including the Jesusita Trail, Rattlesnake Trail and Lizard's Mouth-are closed to public entry until the Gap fire is 100 percent suppressed and rehabilitation efforts completed.

As alternatives to the closed areas, Los Padres National Forest rangers recommend the Snyder Trail for mountain biking, front country trails east of Gibraltar Road for hiking and Red Rock for bouldering. All camping, boating and recreational facilities at Lake Cachuma, off of Highway 154, are open.

Visitor Info

Santa Barbara-the American Riviera (http://www.santabarbaraca.com/)-offers a captivating blend of history, distinctive architecture and Southern California lifestyle in a breathtaking setting of glorious palm-lined beaches, majestic mountain ranges and bucolic wine country. A city of white-washed buildings with red tile roofs tucked between the mountains and the sea, Santa Barbara resonates with an irresistibly sensuous and laid-back allure. Set on the Pacific with 100 miles of sweeping coastline, Santa Barbara and its environs lie just 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco. Visitors may arrive via scenic Highway 101, daily stops on Amtrak or via air service to Santa Barbara Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. Santa Barbara County offers 168 diverse lodging options, ranging from deluxe resorts and stylish boutique hotels to romantic inns and rustic guest ranches. Visit www.santabarbaraCA.com for visitor information and Hot Deals.

Contact:

Shannon Turner Brooks

Director of Communications

Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission

805.966.9222

sbrooks@santabarbaraCA.com





Santa Barbara County Is Open for Business