After almost a month of battling the inferno, officials declared the human-caused Gap fire fully contained at 6 p.m. July 28.
The fire started July 1 north of Goleta in the Lizard’s Mouth area along West Camino Cielo. It burned 9,442 acres and destroyed four outbuildings, according to Los Padres National Forest officials. No injuries were reported and no homes were destroyed.
Firefighters continued to watch the burned area since smoke may be seen rising from its interior. The emergency closure of forest areas surrounding the fire was lifted July 30, but a section of West Camino Cielo from west of the Winchester Gun Club to east of Broadcast Peak remained closed to traffic.