UPDATE (2:15 p.m.) - The Divide Fire burned approximately 3.5 acres, according to fire officials at the scene.
Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Steve Davis says while firefighters were able to get a handle on this fire fairly quickly, the onset of a heat wave is a concern.
"We're at the beginning of our first heat wave of the year. Grass and brush is drying out rapidly and we have a really large grass crop after all the rains earlier in this year," Davis said. "With the heat coming on and wind later this afternoon and later this week, we can expect that fuels are gonna be dryer and in the event of a fire, they're going to move rapidly and grow rapidly."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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UPDATE (12:57 p.m.) - Fire officials report forward progress of the fire has been stopped.
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UPDATE (12:31 p.m.) - Santa Barbara County Fire reports good progress on containing the Divide Fire.
Air tankers have been canceled, but ground crews will remain on the scene to build containment lines and mop up hot spots.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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(12:20 p.m.) - Santa Barbara County Firefighters are at the scene of a brush fire along Highway 101 near Highway 154.
The fire was first reported at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday on the northbound side of the highway.
According to fire officials, the blaze — nicknamed the Divide Fire — has burned two acres as of 12 p.m. and is spreading at a moderate rate.
Two firefighting air tankers have been called to respond to the fire as well as additional resources.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the #2 lane of the highway is closed.
