UPDATE (3:06 p.m.) — Santa Barbara County Fire officials report that the vegetation fire near Highway 101 in Goleta was extinguished at 1:37 p.m.
Authorities identified the blaze as an unhoused encampment fire that spread to nearby brush and grew to be about 10 feet by 20 feet.
The Union Pacific train tracks near the fire were reportedly closed while fire officials responded.
Santa Barbara County Fire says no injuries were reported as a result of the fire, and that the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
The train tracks have opened and traffic in the area is no longer affected, according to officials.
(1:56 p.m.) — A vegetation fire near southbound Highway 101 in Goleta has reportedly blocked traffic in one lane.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the fire is burning close to the highway at the Hollister Ave. off-ramp.
Black smoke was first reported at approximately 1:15 p.m., according to the agency.
CHP says the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department were called to the scene around 1:22 p.m.
The right lane was reportedly blocked by the fire at 1:28 p.m.
Mapping of the area still shows congested traffic along the highway.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
