GAVIOTA, Calif. (AP) -- Strong winds fanned a wildfire that burned 7,100 acres in Santa Barbara County, causing the evacuation of about half a dozen homes and closure of a section of Highway 101, authorities said Tuesday.
Winds up to 40 mph pushed the fire into Arroyo Hondo Canyon, about four miles east of El Capitan State Beach, prompting evacuation of the homes and the shut down both directions of Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and Buellton around 7 p.m. Tuesday, county fire department spokesman Charlie Johnson said.
``This thing blew up on us tonight,'' Johnson said. ``You can't fight the fire with these kinds of winds.''
Authorities said the blaze was about 40 percent contained and expect full containment on Thursday.
``The biggest problem is heavy winds and a lot of smoke. When you can't see, that's when you cause a lot of accidents,'' said department spokeswoman Jan Purkett. ``We have to get the weather to cooperate with us. The winds are kicking our butts. This is Billy Goat territory. It's very steep, rugged terrain.''
Residents who had been evacuated from the 150-home, gated community of Hollister Ranch were allowed to return home.
Firefighters at the north end of the blaze were working to keep the fire from spilling over a steep ridge and farther into the forest, said Barry Peckham, spokesman for the Los Padres National Forest.
One home in an isolated area was destroyed and three outbuildings were damaged. The fire neared a school and the Arguello and Shell Oil refineries but they were not damaged, Pasinato said. Workers were repairing train damaged trestles owned by Union Pacific Railway just south of Gaviota and company officials hoped to resume rail service in a week.
No major injuries were reported. Purkett said seven firefighters got poison oak Tuesday and one sustained a twisted knee.
The fire broke out before noon Saturday in a section of the Gaviota Pass, about 27 miles north of Santa Barbara, and burned across narrow canyons and steep hillsides covered with chaparral. The cause is under investigation.
Related:
