GOLETA A small vegetation fire broke out early Thursday in a Eucalyptus grove located in the 7600 block of Hollister Avenue in Goleta, authorities said.
The fire was reported around 7 a.m. A large column of smoke was seen in the area and first arriving units reported an established fire in the grove of Eucalyptus trees. Crews located the origin of the blaze at a homeless encampment, though no people were located at the scene when crews arrived, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Railroad traffic was shut down for a time. Fire crews used foam to douse the fire, causing smoke to drift across Highway 101 slowing the morning commute. It took crews about an hour to extinguish the fire, which charred approximately a quarter-acre, authorities said.
No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
