By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
A vegetation fire broke out just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, which is rapidly spreading due to windy conditions, according to Santa Barbara County Fire officials.
“There are evacuations warnings in place for the area north of Highway 246, east of Dominguez Road back to Highway 101 including some portions of Bobcat Springs,” said Mike Eliason, public information officer for SBC Fire.
As of 3:30 p.m. the SBC Sheriff’s Dept. has issued an Evacuation Order for the area of Domingos Road to Highway 101, excluding the city limits for Buellton.
At 4 p.m. the estimate is 600 acres burned, Eliason reported.
Photo by Phil Carpenter
The fire is in the 7300 block of Highway 246 near Domingos Road and there are several engine companies doing structure protection, Eliason added. He also said there are air tankers in route and the wind is gusting in an easterly direction of between 12 and 22 miles per hour.
California Highway Patrol has closed Highway 246 west of Riverview Drive in Buellton. It will reopen as of 5 p.m.
Photo by Mike Eliason, SBC Fire
The Drum Fire is at 10 percent containment as of 5:15 p.m.
Forward progress is stopped and all evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings as of 6 p.m., according to Eliason.
Overnight temperatures and the marine layer helped increase containment to 30 percent as of Monday morning. Acreage will be mapped today, so it might decrease from 600, according to fire officials.
Check back for updates.
