A grass fire was burning Thursday along Highway 101 south of Los Alamos generating a large column of smoke in the area.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the incident 1 mile north of Highway 154. 

The so-called Divide Fire was moving at a moderate rate, Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said. 

Flames were seen on the highway’s right shoulder as the fire generated a lot of black smoke. 

One lane of northbound Highway 101 was closed in the area due to the incident and traffic delays were expected, according to Caltrans.  

Two air tankers were requested to assist crews on the ground but later canceled when ground crews were able to extinguish the blaze, Safechuck said. 

Crews will remain on scene to build containment lines and mop up hot spots, Safechuck added.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, he said.