Evacuation orders were lifted Friday afternoon as firefighters from multiple agencies reached 50% containment on a wildfire burning near the Lompoc Federal Prison Complex and Vandenberg Village.

Crews were dispatched at about 1:40 p.m. to the vegetation fire that was reported in the area of Santa Lucia Canyon Road and Klein Boulevard. Air tankers and helicopters were also called to the scene. 

The initial size-up of the blaze, dubbed the Santa Lucia Fire, was 2-3 acres burning in light to moderate vegetation.

A later report indicated the fire had charred 35 acres, with the potential to blacken 500-1,000 acres.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said the forward progress of the blaze was stopped around 3:25 p.m., and it was reportedly 50% contained as of 4:10 p.m. 

The cause of the wildfire was under investigation. 

The Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders and warnings for areas of Vandenberg Village along with the prison employee housing area but all orders were lifted as of 4:40 p.m.

Flames and smoke from the Santa Lucia Fire are seen from the air Friday afternoon. The 35-acre threatened homes in the Vandenberg Village neighborhood and was reportedly 50% contained as of 4:10 p.m.  (Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo)

The American Red Cross set up a temporary evacuation point at Cabrillo High School, 4350 Constellation Road, in Vandenberg Village for people displaced by the fire. 

“Luckily, no structures were damage by the fire,” Eliason said. 

Temperatures were reported to be in the low-80s in the area of the fire, with wind gusts to 17 mph, according to fire officials. 

Smoke boils up from a vegetation fire burning Friday afternoon behind the Vandenberg Village neighborhood near Lompoc. Evacuations orders were lifted by 5 p.m.  (Anikka Abbott / KEYT News photo)

Personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Lompoc Fire Department and the Vandenberg Fire Department were dispatched to the fire with the number nearing 250.

Firefighters were expected to remain at the scene through the night dealing with hot spots on the interior of the blaze, Eliason said.

Some roads were closed in the area due to firefighting activity. 

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District monitors showed moderate air quality in Lompoc Friday afternoon during the fire, and good air quality in the rest of the region. 

Click here to view current air quality conditions.

Additional details were not immediately available.

— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.