Grass Fire Burns Near Refugio Canyon

Santa Barbara County firefighters, assisted by the U.S. Forest Service and CHP personnel, extinguished a 10-acre grass fire that broke out at around 4:30 Monday afternoon near Refugio Canyon.

“A total of eight engines, two water tenders, three dozers, two hand crews, two helicopters, two air tankers, and two chief officers responded to the scene,” said County Fire spokesperson David Sadecki. Firefighters arrived to find the fire burning on the north side of Highway 101 to the west of Refugio Road. Temperatures at the time, said Sadecki, were in the mid 80s and there was a light wind.

While one structure was threatened, no evacuations were ordered. Access to the fire was limited because of steep terrain and few roads in the area. The blaze was put out by 7 p.m., and traffic on Highway 101 was slowed but remained open. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said Sadecki.