{"id":454089,"date":"2026-09-05T03:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T03:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/454089\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T03:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T03:56:09","slug":"secret-homeless-bunker-discovered-near-santa-barbara-path-after-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/454089\/","title":{"rendered":"Secret homeless bunker discovered near Santa Barbara path after fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

An underground homeless encampment was uncovered along a ritzy California bike path<\/a> only after emergency crews discovered a fire burning inside.<\/p>\n

The fire at the subterranean encampment along the Carpinteria Creek Bike Path was reported Thursday, Aug. 27 right after midnight, according to the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District.<\/a> <\/p>\n

An underground homeless encampment was uncovered along a ritzy California bike path. Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District<\/p>\n

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department respond to a smoke investigation on the Carpinteria Creek bike path. Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District<\/p>\n

Initially crews responded to conduct a smoke investigation in dense vegetation<\/a> on the 5400 and 5500 blocks of Carpinteria Avenue.<\/p>\n

Then when they got to the location they discovered \u201ca bright orange glow and flames coming from a moderate to heavy vegetation area on the Carpinteria Creek bike path.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Personnel found \u201ca fully involved hidden subterranean structure that was confirmed as a homeless encampment\u201d and extinguished the fire.<\/p>\n

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Department said they discovered \u201ca bright orange glow and flames coming from a moderate to heavy vegetation area on the Carpinteria Creek bike path.\u201d
Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District<\/p>\n

The fire didn\u2019t spread into the vegetation or surrounding structures and no one was injured, according to the fire department staff.<\/p>\n

The Noozhawk, a local news outlet covering Santa Barbara County, reported <\/a>that the city assistant manager Ryan Kintz said that the city\u2019s Public Works team, Code Compliance, and the Fire Marshal met following the initial emergency response.<\/p>\n

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Emergency crews were dispatched to assist the Santa Barbara County Sheriff\u2019s Office for a smoke investigation. Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District<\/p>\n

The structure and associated debris have since been removed, Kintz told Noozhawk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe remaining work is to backfill the depression left after removal of the structure and restore the area,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Kintz added that Public Works is \u201ccurrently assessing the site\u201d and working with different agencies for \u201cany necessary permitting and reporting requirements\u2026 at this point, our immediate focus is completing the remaining work and appropriately restoring the site.\u201d<\/p>\n

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