Evacuations were expanded in the Cuyama Valley for a vegetation fire that had burned an estimated 5,500 acres Saturday.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded to the blaze at Highway 166 and Perkins Road at 1:20 p.m.

The blaze was burning away from the town of New Cuyama in a southeast direction as of 3:30 p.m., County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck told Noozhawk. The department called in six air tankers and water-dropping helicopters to attack the fire from the air.

Highway 166 was closed between Highway 101 in Santa Maria and New Cuyama due to the fire, he said.

The blaze had ballooned to an estimated 5,500 acres as of 6 p.m.

Evacuations were ordered for the areas of Aliso Canyon Road to Wasioja Road and Cottonwood Canyon Road, Safechuck said.

Fire crews were stationed for structure protection in the Wasioja area, he added.

An earlier wildfire prompted evacuations on Hapgood Road near Highway 246, which is between Buellton and Lompoc.

Several residences on the road were evacuated, according to Safechuck.

This fire was 50% contained as of 2 p.m. and resources were diverted to the large Cuyama Valley fire, he said.

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