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Hottest Day Yet For Crews Fighting Santa Barbara County Fire; 7,893 Acres Burned

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Crews battling the Sherpa Fire, burning for the fifth day in Santa Barbara County, will face temperatures in the 90s and strong winds Sunday.

As of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the fire was 51 percent contained.

Officials said 7,893 acres have burned, while 2,016 firefighters -- from the U.S. Forest Service, Cal-Fire and Santa Barbara County Fire, working under a unified command -- have battled the blaze.

Two fire fighters suffered minor injuries, but both are back on the line.

Crews are getting air support from six helicopters, four air tankers and a DC-10.

Flight restrictions banning drones have been put into effect by the FAA around the fire zone.

130 fire engines and six bulldozers are on the scene.

According to Santa Barbara County officials, crews will build and reinforce containment lines alongthe north and east sides of the fire along Highway 101 Sunday.

The raging blaze -- which is feeding off of brush and tall grass chaparral, and amplified by extreme winds -- was first reported off Refugio Road at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

One building has already been damaged and a firefighter suffered a minor laceration, according to authorities. 270 structures are threatened, along with crops, parks, power lines and the Ventura (101) Freeway.

FirePerimeter
Sherpa Fire perimeter. Credit: Santa Barbara County

One small water treatment building at El Capitan State Beach burned.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect through Wednesday.

Officials announced one road closure; Calle Real from El Capitan to Refugio Road at Cathedral Oaks.

No new evacuations were announced Sunday.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect at Refugio State Beach, Refugio Canyon, Venadito Canyon, Canada del Venadito Canyon, Las Flores Canyon, El Capitan Canyon, El Capitan Ranch, El Capitan State Beach and Canada de la Destiladera.

A shelter is open at Wake Center, located at 300 N. Turnpike Road in Santa Barbara.

Other shelters are on standby in Goleta and Santa Ynez.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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