Full Notification

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad and Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team investigated a potentially explosive military ordnance that was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. on April 16 in the 1600 block of Copenhagen Drive located in Solvang’s business district near residences.  Approximately 500 to 700 homes and businesses, including several hotels, in the immediate area received Reverse 911calls instructing them to evacuate the area.  The initial Reverse 911 went out to approximately 400 phone numbers in the area at approximately 5:20 p.m. and at about 8:00 p.m. was expanded to include more than a total of 1,000 phone numbers in a 1500 foot radius of where the military ordnance was located.

The evacuation area included the area South of Laurel Avenue, West of Alisal Road, North of Birch Drive and East of 5^th Street.  Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team members assisted with going door to door to notify residents of the mandatory evacuation.  The American Red Cross set up a location for those who were evacuated at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall at 1745 Mission Drive in Solvang.  It took several hours to safely evacuate everyone out of the area. 

At just after midnight, the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad and Vandenberg’s EOD team removed the military ordnance and rendered it safe.  Shortly after, the evacuation was lifted and residents were allowed to return to their homes. 

The incident is under investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.