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UPDATE: Real Fire near El Capitan Canyon burns 420 acres, 90% contained

Posted at 9:09 AM, Oct 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-20 23:00:14-04

UPDATE (October 20th, 7:55 p.m.) - The Real Fire is now 90% contained. The cause is still under investigation.

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Real Fire update

UPDATE (October 19th, 5 p.m.) - The Real Fire is still holding at 420 acres and is 80% contained.

Santa Barbara County Fire officials expect to reach full containment by Monday.

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UPDATE (5 p.m.) - Fire officials say containment has increased on the 420-acre Real Fire to 50 percent.
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ORIGINAL STORY: The Real Fire burning near El Capitan Canyon remains 20 percent contained Friday morning, fire officials say, adding that new mapping shows 420 acres have burned, down from an earlier estimate of 443 acres. They expect increased containment throughout the day.

The fire broke out Thursday afternoon, closing a portion of Highway 101 in the early evening and evacuating campers from nearby campgrounds.

Fire officials at a morning briefing said flames burned into a campground but no structures were damaged.

State Parks says camping reservations are canceled until further notice.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says campers and others evacuated from the Ocean Mesa campground and El Capitan Canyon Restort will be allowed back at 10 a.m. Friday to retrieve their belongings.

An evacuation warning for residents between Dos Pueblos Canyon and Winchester Canyon was lifted Thursday night.

Fire officials say more than 100 firefighters are currently assigned to the fire, working to mop up and reinforce containment lines.

“Critical fire weather” is expected in the area again Friday evening.