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Photos: Alisal fire burns in Santa Barbara County

The sun is partially obscured by smoke as a firefighting helicopter prepares to make a water drop.
The sun is partially obscured by smoke as a firefighting helicopter prepares to make a water drop on the Alisal fire near Goleta on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Alisal fire swelled to more than 15,000 acres, marking Southern California’s first major wildfire of the season.

The fire was burning near Rancho del Cielo, which was once owned by Ronald and Nancy Reagan and was known as the Western White House during his presidency. Fire crews were protecting the ranch where Reagan hosted world leaders.

The fire erupted Monday on a ridge and swept toward the ocean, forcing the closure of U.S. 101, the only major highway on that section of the coast. Evacuation orders and warnings were in place for ranches and several rural communities.

A firefighting airplane drops fire retardant ahead of the Alisal fire near Goleta on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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A firefighter observes a plume of smoke from the Alisal fire near Goleta on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighting helicopter drops water on the Alisal fire near Goleta on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco)
Fire retardant is dropped on the Alisal fire near Goleta on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter puts out hot spots in the burn zone of the Alisal fire near Goleta on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Smoke from the Alisal fire near Goleta as an aircraft drops fire retardant Wednesday.
A plume of smoke from the Alisal fire near Goleta as an aircraft drops fire retardant Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters battle the Alisal fire along the 101 Freeway near Goleta.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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 A firefighter battles the Alisal fire along the 101 Freeway near Goleta on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.
A firefighter battles the Alisal fire along the 101 Freeway near Goleta.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter battles the Alisal fire along the 101 Freeway near Goleta on Tuesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter uses a small hose to wet down the remnants of a burning animal pen
Lane Morrison of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection puts out flames in a pen near a home along Refugio Road.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A man shrouded by smoke uses a garden hose to soak dry vegetation
A man waters down dry vegetation as the Alisal fire burns at the edges of a ranch near Goleta on Tuesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
 A man uses a garden hose to wet down vegetation
A man uses a garden hose to water down dry vegetation as the Alisal fire burns at the edges of a ranch near Goleta on Tuesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters carry hose
Firefighters put out spot fires ahead of the Alisal fire along the 101 Freeway near Goleta on Tuesday.
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
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Flames burn near a fence line
The Alisal fire burns along the 101 Freeway near Goleta on Tuesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A woman wearing a mask carries a goat
Angela Yates of Santa Barbara County Animal Services transfers a goat to a trailer after evacuating it from the ranch of Brian Stuart.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A man stands near a wildfire
Eric Hvolboll watches the Alisal fire from his La Paloma Ranch in Venadeto Canyon.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Mailboxes on fire
Mailboxes burn along Refugio Road.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters rake up earth.
Firefighters from California Conservation Corps prepare the ground as flames advance.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters watch grass burn
Firefighters from Los Padres National Forest monitor the flames.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters from California Conservation Corps prepare as flames from the Alisal Fire move toward La Paloma Ranch.
(Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters with a hose
Firefighters extinguish flames Tuesday afternoon.
(Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire )
A helicopter flies through smoke.
A firefighting helicopter heads to a refill station after dropping a load of water on the Alisal fire.
(Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department)
Orange glow illuminates firefighters
Santa Barbara County firefighters standing in the northbound lanes of the 101 Freeway spray water on the advancing fire Monday night near Refugio Beach.
(Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department)
A ranch with smoke in the distance.
A smoke column from the Alisal fire can be seen behind former President Reagan’s Rancho del Cielo in Santa Barbara County.
(Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department)
Cars on a highway, with smoke in the distance.
The Alisal fire broke out Monday in Santa Barbara County and quickly grew.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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