Hope Ranch “Volcano” Erupts Saturday

By edhat staff

The “Hope Ranch Volcano” erupted Saturday morning sparking a small brush fire to the surrounding vegetation.

At 11:22 a.m., Santa Barbara County firefighters arrived with three engines approximately one mile west of Arroyo Burro Beach, also known as Hendry’s Beach, and discovered a small but smoky vegetation fire on the hillside. 

There were no structures threatened. 

Shale oil combustion is a common occurrence in this area and often produces visible smoke, but it doesn’t often start fires. 

SBCFD Public Information Officer Mike Eliason called the event a “temperamental geological phenomenon.”


Photo: SBCFD

Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

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  1. Lava tubes used to go out to the ocean…many of them and they were sealed up. It would be great if the Indy or EH did a feature story on the area geology and history. California has a lot of volcanos and many hot active areas close by. Thermal pools, hot springs…all generated by volcanic activity. Perhaps they want to downplay this so people don’t get scared. But it is better to understand the area geology and work in partnership with it.

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