Brush fire near Buellton temporarily closes Hwy. 101
Update 5:40 p.m.
All lanes of traffic on Highway 101 have reopened, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Update 1:40 p.m.
The CHP has opened both southbound lanes of Highway 101 and is escorting traffic through the area. One lane of northbound Highway 101 is now open.
Update 1:30 p.m.
Santa Barbara County Officials reported that a second fire broke out off Cat Canyon. It’s near the first, but unrelated. It was 4 acres at 1:30 p.m.
Update 1 p.m.
CHP reported at 12:58 p.m. that the highway is close to reopening but that smoke is still blowing across the road.
Original post
Santa Barbara County fire agencies were responding to a 5-acre vegetation fire at Highway 101 and Zaca Station Road north of Buellton on Thursday afternoon, which resulted in the closure of the highway in both directions.
Santa Barbara County fire officials called in air resources, and at least two tankers and a helicopter responded to the scene, spokesman Mike Eliason said.
Winds were reportedly calm in the area, but downed, live power lines made the scene difficult for firefighting resources to access, Eliason added.
The fire is burning near Highway 101 and Highway 154, north of Buellton and the Santa Ynez Valley.
California Highway Patrol began stopping traffic at 12:23 p.m.
No further details were available.
Check back for updates to this story.
Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNewsand @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
This story was originally published December 7, 2017 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Brush fire near Buellton temporarily closes Hwy. 101."