Crews make progress against Santa Barbara County fire

Hundreds of firefighters were battling a brush fire Tuesday night that had charred 2,000 acres in Santa Barbara County and forced authorities to evacuate about 50 homes earlier in the day.

The White fire raged out of control on a day when Southern California was buffeted by high winds as fire crews responded to other, smaller brush fires in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties. The White fire broke out Sunday in the Los Padres National Forest and flames quickly consumed brush, oak trees and chaparral, the U.S. Forest Service said.

By Tuesday night, firefighters took advantage of a lull in the winds and had the blaze 65% contained. People who were evacuated from areas near Paradise Road and the Santa Ynez River were being allowed back into their homes, the Forest Service said.

Earlier in the day, wind gusts up to 40 mph forced authorities to temporarily ground fixed-winged aircraft that had been making repeated fire-retardant drops and kept crews at bay as they worked to cut lines around the perimeter, said Forest Service spokeswoman Paula Martinez. She said water-dropping helicopters continued to battle the blaze while the tanker planes were grounded.

“The helicopters did a tremendous job today, as well as the firefighters who were assigned to various areas on the lines,” Martinez said. “The lines were truly tested, but so far they are holding.” More than 600 firefighters from several jurisdictions had arrived.

Flames as high as 30 feet were fanned by the powerful winds. Thefire destroyed one structure and damaged a vehicle and another structure, the Forest Service said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

The White Rock campground was charred black Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters stood by, watching for flare-ups.

In the distance, rumbling across clear skies, helicopters could be seen dumping water on a mountainous area inaccessible to the public.

“We got lucky, this fire looks like it’s gonna miss us; it hasn’t really come to the parts here where there are homes,” said Gilbert Unzueta, 75, as he sat on a porch at the Paradise Store with several others who had been evacuated Monday.

The group had spent the day together, drinking beer at the store, which remained open. But they were also on alert as word spread Tuesday afternoon that another brush fire had broken out in Santa Barbara County east of Solvang.

That blaze charred 170 acres before its progress was stopped by crews aided by four helicopters and four air tankers. The fire briefly forced authorities to close California 154 near Armor Ranch Road, officials from the county Fire Department said.

In Los Angeles County, firefighters stopped a brush fire that burned 149 acres Tuesday afternoon near Valencia.

kurt.streeter@latimes.com

Times staff writer Robert J. Lopez contributed to this report.