Wildfire investigators with the U.S. Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Fire Department have concluded that the Gibraltar Fire was “intentionally set by an unknown party,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the Forest Service. “This unknown party ignited the dry vegetation immediately adjacent to Cold Spring Trail.”
The Forest Service is asking anyone with information about the identity of the suspected arsonist or arsonists to call investigators at (805) 925-9538, ext. 238.
The October 29 blaze was reported via 9-1-1 at 5:16 a.m. as 40-mph winds threated to push 30-foot flames down two chaparral-choked canyons above Montecito. As ground crews cut access roads from East Camino Cielo, a quickly coordinated air strike snuffed the wildfire with water drops and fire retardant. There were no injures or damaged structures.