Ballard Fire burns 37 acres in Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Barbara County, Calif. - Forward progress of a brush fire burning in the Santa Ynez Valley was stopped after the fire burned 37 acres.
The Ballard Fire is 50 percent contained as of 9 p.m Tuesday. The fire is expected to be fully contained by 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. Santa Barbara County Fire crews will remain on the scene throughout the day Wednesday to patrol and "mop up."
The fire was first reported around 2:50 p.m. near the intersection of Tapadero and Ballard Canyon roads near Ballard.
The fire erupted and quickly began to spread, threatening multiple homes in the area, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Air support units assisted firefighters on the ground and made multiple water and retardant drops.
#BallardFire- Ballard IC reports forward progress stopped, no further evacuations needed. Approximately 20 acres & fixed-wing being released, Copter remains on scene. Resources continue working to extinguish multiple hotspots & containment line. Cause under investigation. pic.twitter.com/prUBjNdbGv
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) June 8, 2021
At around 4:30 p.m., Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Daniel Bertucelli said forward progress of the fire had been stopped. Firefighters were successful in protecting homes from the fire, but one outbuilding was damaged.
The fire broke out less than an hour after the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management issued a wind advisory for the Santa Barbara south coast and mountains. The National Weather Service warned of wind gusts of up to 50 mph starting around 6 p.m.
Neighbors worked together to move horses to stables away from the smoke.
Horse owner Buffy Oas said, "It is pretty neat, we get a call out like that and it is a network, and pretty soon trailers just show up, we are lucky."
Julie Di Sieno said the Animal Rescue Team has done this before.
"It just started with a huge white plume and I automatically started calling everybody saying start evacuating your horses, this doesn't look good," said Di Sieno.
Gretchen Voelcker said she was riding when she saw the flames.
" First reaction was to get the horses off the property and all the horses here in the neighborhood and now we are just trying to put out the hot spots. We are lucky the winery seems to be safe the house seems to be safe."
The flames charred grassland next to Cabernet grapes growing at Piazza Family Wines.
@NWSLosAngeles issued a wind advisory for Santa Barbara County South Coast and Mountains. North winds from 20-30MPH with gusts up to 50MPH are expected starting at 6PM this evening. Gusty winds are expected to continue through Thursday. Use caution when outdoors and when driving.
— SBCountyOEM (@SBCountyOEM) June 8, 2021
For the latest weather conditions in the area, click here.
#BallardFire burning in Santa Ynez Valley as captured by three @AlertWildfire cameras pic.twitter.com/K8vb3Q2wKJ
— Travis Schlepp (@travischlepp) June 8, 2021
