For the third time in less than a year, Santa Barbara area residents are again facing the threat of a serious fire. As of Tuesday night, a mandatory evacuation order was in effect for all neighborhoods north of Foothill Road, east of Ontare Road and Morada Lane and west of El Cielito and Gibraltar roads to East Camino Cielo.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the residents threatened by the Jesusita Fire and to our brave fire fighters and first responders who are battling this blaze. Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency for the City of Santa Barbara which will help provide additional resources to help fight the fire and aid in the recovery process.

I've been closely monitoring the situation with updates from my staff, and my staff and I are in constant contact with the public safety officials responding to the fire. I’m pleased that federal, state, and local officials are working closely together to protect local residents, their property and to combat the Jesusita fire. It is important that the federal government continue providing support and resources to the city and the state for their efforts to contain and eventually extinguish the Jesusita fire. I will continue working with state and local authorities to resolve this serious threat to our community.

Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.