A South Coast gas station that’s normally busy anyway because it’s right off Highway 101 has been serving double duty as an informal information kiosk on the Thomas fire.
On any given day, Risdon’s 76 gas station in Carpinteria is so busy that they put employees near the pumps to direct traffic. Now, though, customers often have more than filling up on their mind. They want to know about everything from road closures to status of the Thomas Fire.
Ever since the fire moved into Santa Barbara County, Owner Don Risdon says they’ve had to keep up on everything from closed streets to evacuation areas because customers come in looking for gas, and information.
Risdon says the situation is keeping him busy, which is okay, because for days, his Carpinteria area home was also part of the evacuation zone. The evacuation orders and warnings have since been dropped for Risdon’s home, and his gas station off of Santa Monica Avenue in Carpinteria.
