Edhat Staff
A potentially hazardous situation was averted on Sunday afternoon when a vehicle fire on Gibraltar Road escalated into a nearby vegetation fire, prompting a swift response from multiple fire agencies.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. on August 11, emergency teams rushed to the 2500 block of Gibraltar Road after reports of a van on fire. The blaze intensified upon reaching the adjacent vegetation, turning into a 20×30 feet spot fire.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of Montecito Fire, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire District, Santa Barbara City Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, Los Padres National Forest Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle fire was extinguished by 4:30 p.m.
Shortly after, at 4:35 p.m., the progress of the vegetation fire was halted, preventing any further damage to the area.
The authorities quickly managed the situation, allowing for a prompt reopening of the roads. There were no injuries were reported during the incident, however, the cause of the van catching fire is still under investigation.
Fire officials and law enforcement agencies effectively coordinated to manage traffic and ensure public safety while firefighting operations were underway.
