Firefighters battle multiple vegetation fires off Highway N101 along Nojoqui Grade

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters responded to multiple vegetation fires off of Highway 101 near the Nojoqui Summit and the intersection with Old Coast Highway Tuesday.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department detailed that a total of 25.3 acres were burned and the fire is currently 80 percent contained.

Reports of smoke and flames were reported around 4:31 p.m. Tuesday.

Northbound traffic along Highway 101 was backed up as drivers were diverted away from the fire response and towards Highway 1 at Las Cruces, but Highway 101 is now open shared the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Two air tankers and other assets were part of the response and agricultural fields are helping with controlling the perimeter of the flames explained the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Firefighting pilots tried not to waste a drop.

Bill Giorgi watched as he rounded up cattle after learning about the fire.

The phone started ringing off the hook and then we looked down and we saw the smoke, " said Giorgi.

Fixed wing tankers left a trail of pink Phos-chek.

The California Highway Patrol detoured northbound traffic for hours, just long enough to give crews the upper hand.

"We closed the 101 at state route1 and redirected traffic to go around through Lompoc," said Sgt. Rafael Rivera, "We know how quickly things can get out control so these guys did a great job."

Locals called the firefighters in the air and on the ground "brave heroes."

Many will stick around to do what firefighters call "mopping up."

"We are looking for hot spots we are just trying to cool everything down," said Santa Barbara County Battalion Chief Lonny Maniscalco.

Firefighters stopped progress with the help of lots of resources.

"It was challenging the fire started in multiple places as you can see."

They made people and local structures in the area a priority.

"Luckily, we had resources coming from the south and we had resources coming from the north so we were able to attack it on both sides naturally the way it laid, so it worked out really good for us," said Maniscalco, " And then of course the air attack is always a blessing, they were on top of it fairly quickly."

They also happened to have a strike team from Cal Fire in the the area.

They arrived quickly.

Crews from up and down the coast made it a joint effort.

Ranchers think a trailer dragging a chain may have sparked the flames, but it will be up to firefighters to  determining the cause.