A vehicle fire that spread to nearby vegetation in the hills above Montecito was quickly handled by firefighters Sunday afternoon. 

At approximately 4:45 p.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County and Montecito fire departments and other agencies were dispatched to the incident on the 2500 block of GibraltarRoad, above El Cielito Road, according to the Montecito Fire Protection District. 

According to emergency dispatch reports, a passenger van caught fire leading to minor extension of flames into the nearby brush.

A small column of black smoke could be seen from some parts of the Santa Barbara area due to the fire.

Crews from the Los Padres National Forest plus the county’s Air Support Unit helicopter originally were dispatched to the scene, but were later canceled after the initial firefighters on scene said they could handle the incident.

The fire destroyed the vehicle leaving behind a blackened shell.

No injuries were reported.

California Highway Patrol officers and a tow truck also responded to the scene.