Piece of Metal Sparks Wildfire
A wildfire sparked after a piece of metal blew into electrical wires raged across 7,500 acres of hilly terrain near Los Padres National Forest on Monday night.
No homes were immediately threatened.
At least 150 firefighters had contained about 15% of the blaze, said Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Keith Cullom. Flames fueled by afternoon winds and brush were burning away from the town of New Cuyama about 45 miles east of Santa Maria.
The fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. on a ranch, damaging at least two outbuildings, Cullom said.
No injuries were reported.
Afternoon winds gusting to 12 mph fanned the fire into the forest, prompting officials to deploy four air tankers and four helicopters, Cullom said.
“A significant amount of the fire is burning within the forest,” he said, adding that the blaze was slowing as it moved into heavy brush that was still moist from a wet spring.
Winds subsided and temperatures dropped Monday evening, he said.
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