Vegetation fire in Goleta burns with potential for 75 acres, 50-60% contained
GOLETA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Fire Department on Thursday afternoon responded to an under-30-acre vegetation fire burning away from Goleta that has the potential to burn 75 acres, and no evacuation warnings have been issued.
The fire was reported to be 50-60% contained as of 6:15 p.m., said Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck.
The fire, deemed the Annie Fire, was first reported on the 1700 block of North Glen Annie Road in Goleta just before 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, according to County Fire spokesman Mike Eliason.
The fire was burning in the Los Padres National Forest and moving uphill away from the city of Goleta with a slow rate of spread, Eliason said.
VegetationFire- #AnnieFire:Update. Good progress being made. Fire not impacting structures, moving up hill away/Goleta, ASU Copt. 964 doing great coordinated work with ground crews. pic.twitter.com/W87ma9o81W
— Scott Safechuck (@SBCFireInfo) August 4, 2022
Crews were reporting that the fire had burned less than 30 acres as of 3:55 p.m., as it transitioned from light grass to heavier fuels.
The fire has the potential to burn up to 75 acres, according to Eliason.
No structures were threatened, and 'good progress' was being made as of 3:35 p.m., Safechuck said. There were no evacuation orders issued as favorable conditions and hard work are keeping the fire away from the populated areas of Goleta, Eliason said.
#AnnieFire - UPDATE- IC reporting an approx 1 acre, moving uphill, with no structures threatened. Fire has slow rate of spread, and burning in the Los Padres NF. pic.twitter.com/oLkSQcX7Ko
— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) August 4, 2022
A fire copter from Santa Ynez assisted in the firefighting efforts, and the department requested fixed-wing tankers as a result of increased fire activity and the transition to heavier fuels, Eliason said.
This is a developing story, check back with News Channel 3-12 for updates.
