Possible Fire on the Mountain

UPDATE, 5:01 p.m.: Officials have pinpointed what they described as a seven-acre grass fire to an area a quarter-mile off East Camino Cielo Road near Arroyo Burro Road. And at this point, crews reportedly have the small blaze fully contained and are mopping things up.

According to Dana D’Andrea, a Forest Service division chief, it was mainly grass that fed the Glass Fire as the area’s shrubbery and other vegetation is still fairly moist and green from the recent wet weather.

The fire is thought to have originated near the the Arroyo Burro shooting range which is nestled within the hilly area. Sheriff’s deputies took the names and license plates of people leaving the scene after the fire broke out, but have not released any information beyond that.

D’Andrea said although crews responding to the Glass Fire had requested backup from other agencies but were denied because personnel was busy dealing with Vandenberg’s Bear Creek Fire, it wasn’t an issue and the available firefighters were enough to keep the blaze under control.

UPDATE, 2:45 p.m.: The Glass Fire, as the incident atop East Camino Cielo has been dubbed, appears to be under control, as firefighters have called off additional helicopters believing that the blaze is on the way out.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

According to scanner chatter and eyewitness reports, there appears to be some sort of firefighting activity going on near East Camino Cielo in the mountains above Santa Barbara.

The California Highway Patrol incident report cites a report of a fire at 12:41 p.m. near Highway 154 and East Camino Cielo. As of 1:12 p.m., the CHP says that there are no roadways affected and that the fire is “up at the Range,” possibly referring to the shooting range atop the Arroyo Burro trail.

An eyewitnesse in the area reported seeing a number of firefighting vehicles driving on East Camino Cielo, but has not seen much recently. There is also some occasional information coming through the scanner, including one report that said the fire was “burning north in spotty brush, just a little west of the last one.” The latest scanner discussion indicated that an air attack will be coming. Listen online here.