Fire crews are working to contain a half-acre vegetation fire reported in the Franklin Trail area behind Carpinteria High School, with U.S. Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Montecito Fire all assisting in containing the blaze.
According to Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesperson Captain Scott Safechuck, the fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, with early reports saying that there were “no visible flames or active smoke from the burn area,” although the location was near power lines in U.S. Forest jurisdiction.
After ground crews were working to access the remote location up the trail, the incident was upgraded with all local agencies responding. As the ground crews worked to construct containment lines using hand tools and chainsaws, helicopters were deployed to drop water on the fire. Several engines and all-terrain vehicles have also been dispatched to the area.