Firefighters work to put out vegetation fire on Highway 166 east of Santa Maria
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. – CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo firefighters were responding to a vegetation fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon on Highway 166 near Bull Canyon Road east of Santa Maria, according to the fire department.
“Our firefighters arrived at scene. They had about four acres of fire and moderate rate of spread, and then it quickly gained to 48 acres. And with the help of aircraft, they were able to slow it down fast enough for the ground crews to get in and get containment," said Adan Orozco with CAL FIRE SLO.
As of 6:00 p.m., the fire has been 100% contained, according to CAL FIRE.
The fire, deemed the Bull Incident, broke out just about five miles southwest of the location of a 14.7-acre vegetation fire over the weekend.
It was first reported just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, and had grown to over 50 acres by 4 p.m., CAL FIRE spokesman Adan Orozco told News Channel 3-12.
Orozco said the fire was burning at a moderate rate of spread, but no structures were threatened at the time.
“Our fire investigator is on scene trying to determine the cause of the fire," said Orozco.
Smoke was visible from the freeway.
Santa Barbara County firefighters were assisting CAL FIRE crews to put out the flames, said Santa Barbara County Fire spokesman Mike Eliason.
“We’re in that season where everything is really dry and can catch fire rather quickly so please be careful around dry grass whether you’re off roading, hunting, working," said Adan Orozco.
