Cal Fire releases cause of Nipomo fire that damaged structure, stopped Hwy 101 traffic

Several brush fires stopped Highway 101 traffic and prompted evacuation warnings in Nipomo on Friday evening.

The first fire was reported at about 3:15 p.m. on the side of Northbound Highway 101 near West Tefft Street, according to emergency response app PulsePoint. By 4 p.m., Cal Fire said multiple fires were burning in the area.

The fires created huge plumes of smoke that could be visible from around Nipomo. Residents in homes across the highway stood outside of their homes and watched as air attack dropped fire retardant on the flames, which spread to a eucalyptus grove and caught at least one tree in the area on fire.

Because of their location, the fires also threatened a number of structures in the area, ultimately damaging one outbuilding, according to Cal Fire.

The San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office sent a reverse 911 call to residents on South Oak Glen Avenue with an evacuation warning, advising residents to shelter in place, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla said.

Forward progress was stopped on the fire around 6 p.m. Cal Fire estimated the size of the largest fire was 26 acres and was 75% contained as of Saturday afternoon.

The fire appears to have been started by a catalytic converter, Cal Fire spokesperson Toni Davis told The Tribune on Friday night.

As of 8 p.m., traffic had once again returned to normal along Highway 101 through Nipomo.

This story was originally published July 15, 2022 at 4:15 PM.