9,443-acre Goleta wildfire nears full containment

GOLETA, Calif. -- An inaccessible area on the western edge of a 9,443-acre wildfire near Goleta has prevented fire bosses from fully surrounding the Gap Fire and declaring containment. U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jim Turner will only say the 22-day-old blaze will be contained "in the near future." Flames in a remote corner of the burn area are giving firefighters trouble. The quarter-mile to half-mile area is about two miles south of West Camino Cielo and east of Tecolote Canyon. The wildfire broke out on July 1 about four miles west of Highway 154. Unique content, exceptional value.... [read full story]