Firefighters are battling a new wildfire pushed along by heavy gusts of wind in the wine country hills northwest of Santa Barbara, Calif.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. David Sadecki says the fast-moving grass fire erupted at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday and rapidly grew from 2 acres to 170 acres, jumping Highway 154 and 246.
The fire is not contained, but Sadecki says dozens of firefighters and two water-dropping helicopters have stopped its forward movement. He says the fire is being driven by wind gusts up to 50 mph and hot, dry conditions.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department sent out an evacuation warning to the roughly 2,000 people living in the area. Santa Ynez is home to many horse ranches and vineyards.
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