UPDATE: Drum fire burning near Buellton remains 600 acres, 30% contained

(UPDATE: 7:00 a.m.) - According to fire officials, about 600 acres were burned, but that number is expected to be revised this afternoon after a more accurate GPS mapping takes place.

According to Santa Barbara Fire Public Information Officer, Mike Eliason, the fire is 30% contained.
___
(UPDATE: 6:37 p.m.) - Forward progress of the Drum Fire has been stopped.

No reports of injuries and no structures were damaged, according to fire officials.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
____

(UPDATE: 6:12 p.m.) - The evacuation orders have been updated to an evacuation warning.

Officials are slowly letting back residents back into the area if they want to return home.

_______

(UPDATE: 5:12 p.m.) -Fire officials say the fire is 10% contained.

(UPDATE: 5:03 p.m.) - Highway 246 has opened back up in both westbound and eastbound directions according to Caltrans and the CHP.
_____

(UPDATE: 3:55 p.m.) - The Drum Fire has jumped to 600 acres.

Highway 246 is now closed from Buellton to Lompoc to thru traffic per Caltrans.

_______________

(UPDATE: 3:46 p.m.) - Residents near Bobcat Springs Rd. have also been ordered to evacuate.

Fire officials said their main focus is protecting the Bobcat Springs area and Buellton as much as possible.

Currently, the Drum Fire is burning east towards Buellton city limits, according to officials.
________

(UPDATE: 3:36 p.m.) - The Drum Fire has grown to 200 acres, according to Mike Eliason, a Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman.

About 200 personnel are on scene helping with the fire fight.

Crews said they are using a aggressive vegetation fire tactics to cut as much line on the fire as possible.

Santa Barbara County Animal Services has been activated and is helping residents with large livestock evacuate the area.

Large livestock may be evacuated to the Elks rodeo grounds Gate 3. Please bring your own feed and supplies.

Small animals may be evacuated to our Santa Maria shelter at 548 W Foster Road.

_____

(UPDATE: 3:00 p.m.) - A hard closure of Hwy 246 is in place from Avenue of Flags to Campbell Rd.
_____

(UPDATE: 2:00 p.m.) - Fire officials have expanded the evacuation warning to an evacuation order as the Drum Fire continues to burn east to US Highway 101 from Dominguez Road, north of Hwy 246.

Law enforcement is assisting with the evacuations.

Fire officials estimate the fire has burned approximately 175 acres.

Firefighters with the Santa Maria Fire Department are heading to assist with the fire.

___

Santa Barbara County firefighters are responding to a vegetation fire near Buellton.

The Drum fire broke out Sunday at around 12:53 p.m. on W. Highway 246 just West of Buellton.

Fire officials say winds are causing the fire to move easterly causing it to threaten some structures.

Evacuation warnings are in place from north of Hwy 246, from Domingos Road east to Bobcat Springs area.

This is a developing story and will be updated when new information becomes available.