Editor’s note: This article was last updated at 11:50 p.m. Sunday with additional information.
A difficult-to-access vegetation fire with the potential to grow up to 1,000 acres was burning Saturday at Hollister Ranch, forcing evacuations along Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota Coast.
As of Sunday morning, firefighters estimated that 100 acres had burned and the fire was 20% contained.
Personnel from the Santa Barbra County Fire Department were dispatched to the incident at 11:30 a.m., according to emergency radio reports.
Firefighters initially estimated the blaze at a half acre in size and slow moving due to light winds.
However, access to the blaze in Alegria Canyon was difficult, and two helicopters were requested to help firefighters.
By 12:30 p.m., firefighters said the behavior of the fire had picked up and asked for additional resources.
Firefighters estimated Saturday afternoon that the fire could potentially grow to between 500 and 1,000 acres.
“The difficulties associated with this fire are the steep topography as well as significant winds blowing in the area right now,” fire Capt. Daniel Bertucelli said Saturday night.
Some areas of the 14,000-acre ranch that has more than 100 residential parcels and a working cattle operation were evacuated as a precaution. Bertucelli said the evacuation order would be lowered to an evacuation warning at 12 p.m. Sunday.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies reportedly detained one person who was near the fire, but that could not be confirmed.
The National Weather Service said northwest winds were expected to increase through the afternoon to 15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph by evening.
Humidity values were noted at 20% by 3 p.m. but were expected to increase rapidly.
On Saturday afternoon, the Weather Service issued a wind advisory expected to last through 3 a.m. Monday with isolated gusts up to 50 mph near Gaviota.
Incident commanders asked for two air tankers to assist in the battle, but requested more aircraft as the winds increased.
Officials reported an “extreme delay” for arrival of aircraft for unknown reasons.
The first air tankers arrived from Riverside at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Hand crews from Santa Barbara County and Vandenberg Fire Department also were ordered.
Crews from Montecito, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Los Padres, Carpinteria-Summerland and other fire departments also were sent to the fire.
Additional resources came from San Luis Obispo, Monterey and other counties.
The fire generated a large column of smoke reported by several residents in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez valleys.
Due to the firefighting activity nearby, authorities closed Gaviota Beach Road at Highway 101 for an unknown length of time.
Firefighters were making plans for crews to be at the incident on Sunday.
Additional details were not immediately available.
Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
This story was originally published March 12, 2022 2:52 PM.