Firefighters Call for Situational Awareness When Fire Danger is High

National Weather Service forecaster Eric Boldt said the dry conditions have increased the threat of wildfire to the highest its been in past five years.

Five years ago Santa Barbara experienced the Gap and Tea fires. A year later, the Jesusita Fire burned dozens of Santa Barbara County homes.

Firefighters said two years of drought are making the threat even worse than recent years.

Santa Barbara City Fire Department Battalion Chief Lee Waldon recommends people have situational awareness when the wind blows.

If anyone sees smoke or flames, they should immediately call 9-1-1.

If evacuations are recommended, they should leave their homes before the road gets jammed with other people under the evacuation order.