Evacuations ordered, highway closed in Buellton area for growing vegetation fire

Evacutions were ordered Sunday afternoon as firefighters battled a two-alarm vegetation fire burning near Highway 246 west of Buellton.

The wind-driven blaze was reported shortly before 1 p.m. on the 7300 block of Highway 246, between Drum Canyon Road and Domingos Road.

There were structures being threatened, and evacuation orders were issued for areas north of Highway 246 between Domingos Road and the Bobcat Springs area, according to Mike Eliason, a Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman.

The initial size up was 20 acres, with winds of 25 mph to 30 mph pushing flames to the east toward Buellton.

At 2 p.m., radio traffic indicated the fire had burned at least 175 acres.

Crews on scene said the fire had the potential to blacken 800 acres.

Water-dropping helicopters were called in, and at least four fixed-wing air tankers were making retardant drops.

Several strike teams of engines were requested to provide structure protection in the Bobcat Springs area.

Authorities were shutting down Highway 246 between Avenue of the Flags and Campbell Road.

Sheriff’s deputies were assisting in the evacuations.

Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.