Sherpa Fire
| Sherpa Fire | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2016 California wildfires | |
The burn scar of the Sherpa Fire as seen from space on June 19. | |
| Date(s) |
|
| Location | Santa Barbara County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°31′48″N 120°03′14″W / 34.53°N 120.054°W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 7,474 acres (30 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Non-fatal injuries | 9 |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Map | |
Location in Southern California | |
The Sherpa Fire was a wildfire that burned in the Santa Ynez Mountains along the Gaviota Coast in the southwestern part of Santa Barbara County, California in June 2016. In a matter of hours the fire spread to over 1,400 acres (570 ha) as the fire was propelled by downslope sundowner winds. This offshore northerly wind contrasts with the more typical onshore flow and sent the fire down the canyons towards the ocean with gusts of over 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). As a result of the wildfire, authorities ordered evacuations at two state beach campgrounds and several nearby homes, and traffic along a state highway was periodically disrupted.