A fire burning in the far northern end of the county beyond Highway 166 in the Los Padres National Forest area filled the Santa Barbara skyline and sunset with smoke. Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria area, and Orcutt were also blanketed by plumes of smoke from the fire in the Los Padres National forest.
Information provided by Santa Barbara County Communications Director William H. Boyer was evolving, but the fire is estimated to have covered 1,000 acres – and growing – in the San Rafael Wilderness Area.
Fire containment is being lead by the Los Padres National Forest Service, and Santa Barbara County Fire has committed at least one helicopter, two bulldozers, and a brush crew.