Firefighters were battling a brush fire that broke out off of Highway 166 east of Santa Maria Friday afternoon.
The fire was first reported at about 2:35 p.m. along Tepusquet Road.
Santa Barbara County Fire officials say the first firefighting aircraft to arrive on scene found a three-acre fire burning in light grass and began dropping water on the flames. Other helicopters and aircraft were called in to create a retardant line around the fire.
Fire officials said the fire had the potential to grow to 200 acres, but as of 4:10 p.m., they said the fire had burned 10 acres and a retardant line around the fire was complete.
Temperatures in the area at the time were in the high 80s with winds gusting to 20 miles per hour.
Firefighters on the ground were having a difficult time accessing the fire because of the remote area.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
