Gap fire

Much of the territory charred by the Gap fire in the Santa Ynez Mountains had not burned since 1955.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters with Cal Fire and the California Department of Corrections watch for new spot fires as they work along a fire break constructed by bulldozers in the Santa Ynez Mountains.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Here are the working conditions for Emanuel Lopez, a firefighter with Cal Fire: the temperature is well above 90, he’s wearing a heavy fire-protection suit -- and he’s walking uphill in the Santa Ynez Mountains above Goleta.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters near West Camino Cielo Road monitor the Gap fire above Goleta.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters Dave Brooks, left, Nick Underwood, center, and Erik Rodriguez prepare to douse hot spots as backfires are set on the southern side of West Camino Cielo above Goleta in the Santa Ynez Mountains. The hillsides are dense with brush that has not burned since 1955.

July 7, 2008  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighters Dennis Vandergriff, left, and Terrence Oats get a brief rest while watching as backfires are set on the southern side of West Camino Cielo.

July 7, 2008  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Josh Hampton, left, and Cody Miller, who are with the National Park Service in Arkansas, mop up hot spots from Sunday night’s backfires.

July 7, 2008  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Tony Nguyen clears brush to create a fire line.

July 7, 2008  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Pat DeNatale, who is with the Sierra Hotshots, uses a drip torch to set backfires on the southern side of West Camino Cielo above Goleta in the Santa Ynez mountains as firefighting hand crews clear brush lines and set backfires to keep the flames from advancing north over the crest of the mountains.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Working for the California Department of Forestry, Tony Nguyen clears brush to create fire lines as firefighters and hand crews focus on West Camino Cielo above Goleta in the Santa Ynez mountains. The hillsides dense with brush have not burned since 1955.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection team from Fresno County work the ridgeline along Camino del Cielo to prevent the Gap fire from crossing the road.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

A water-dropping helicopter helps to quench the flames on the ridgeline along Camino del Cielo. Firefighters in Winchester Canyon on the Gap fire’s eastern edge set backfires in an attempt to contain the blaze.  (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

In Santa Barbara today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is briefed on the Gap fire burning near Goleta.   (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Fire evacuees Brian Termond and his daughter listen as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is briefed today on the progress against the Gap fire in Goleta.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Gap fire evacuee Ed Justus sits on his cot at the Red Cross evacuation center today.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Fan mail for firefighters is posted at the Gap fire command center in Santa Barbara today.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Surrounded by charred vegetation, Santa Barbara County firefighter Shawn Steiner sprays foam on a hot spot this morning along West Camino Cielo Road.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

People find shelter at a Red Cross evacuation center in the San Marcos High School cafeteria in Santa Barbara on Friday.  (Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Robert and Susan Taylor check a map for information on the progress of the fire in Goleta on Friday.  (Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Sean McGaughey cheers as an air tanker drops fire retardant near his home on West Camino Cielo Road on Friday afternoon.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

A tanker drops fire retardant high in the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Goleta.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

A firefighter is dwarfed by smoke from fire burning along West Camino Cielo Road in Goleta on Friday afternoon.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

The sun peers through the smoke from the Gap fire, seen from Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. In adjacent Goleta, residents of more than 1,600 homes had been ordered to evacuate by Thursday night. In some cases, the fire was just a mile from residences.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)