Update: 12:00 p.m., August 21: Cooler temperatures and a lingering marine layer on Monday morning helped firefighting crews get the upper hand on the Front Fire, which burned about 900 acres in Los Padres National Forest east of the Santa Maria Valley, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni. “That thing’s done,” he said. Forest Service Public Information Officer Andrew Madsen said the federal agency had called off additional support crews. There were no evacuations or structures burned.
Original story:
High temperatures Sunday afternoon east of the Santa Maria Valley fueled the Front Fire, which broke out in dry vegetation in the Los Padres National Forest at about 1:30 p.m. near Rock Front Ranch along Highway 166. The California Highway Patrol shut down Highway 166 between highways 101 and 33. It remains closed.
Firefighters with Los Padres, Santa Barbara County, and Cal Fire responded to the blaze. By this morning, more than 700 personnel were assigned to the fire. No evacuations have been ordered.