200-Acre Brush Fire Burning In Santa Barbara's Refugio Canyon
GOLETA (CBSLA.com) — A 200-acre brush fire is burning in Santa Barbara's Refugio Canyon.
Some reports said the fire, which started at about 15 acres, grew to about 250 acres after nightfall.
The blaze has been dubbed the Sherpa Fire because it started near Scherpa Ranch.
The fire was first reported around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday.
KCAL9's Tom Wait reported from the command center at Refugio State Beach in Goleta, about a mile from the Reagan Ranch.
According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, no structures have been damaged but some homes are threatened as of 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Refugio Canyon, Las Flores Canyon and Venadito Canyon.
About 250 residents have been displaced.
Authorities said the fire is growing and started at the top of the canyon and is working its way south toward the beach.
There are no reports of injuries.
At present, firefighters are battling the blaze from the ground and air, including a DC-10 and eight air tankers.
The fire is burning in steep and heavy terrain.
Wait said in some places there were 30-foot walls of fire.
The area is not densely populated, but some campers have also been replaced.
People have been steadily moving out.
Wait spoke to a camp manager who said her camp was filled with many people have family reunions.
"I've been the manager here for 10 years," she said, "and we've never been evacuated before now. So, it's pretty scary."
