An air tanker drops a load of retardant on a two-alarm vegetation fire that was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
A Santa Barbara County helicopter makes a water drop on a two-alarm vegetation fire that was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
Smoke rises from a two-alarm vegetation fire that was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
A helicopter makes a water drop near a residence threatened by a two-alarm vegetation fire that was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
A Los Padres National Forest brush truck on scene of a two-alarm vegetation fire was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
Aerial view of a two-alarm vegetation fire was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
Flames burn vegetation on a hillside in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
A helicopter maneuvers through the smoke Monday afternoon during a vegetation fire in the Los Olivos area. 
A helicopter makes a water drop during a two-alarm vegetation fire that was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon. 
A helicopter makes a water drop during a two-alarm vegetation fire that was burning in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon.
A two-alarm vegetation fire burned between 50 and 60 acres in the Los Olivos area on Monday afternoon, threatening structures and prompting orders for mandatory evacuations.
Personnel from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department were dispatched to the Caballo Fire on the 3300 block of Caballo Lane at approximately 2:30 p.m., according to Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason.
The blaze was near Avenida Caballo and Caballo Lane, but was visible from Old Calzada Road.
By 3 p.m., incident commanders ordered mandatory evacuations for residents on Avenida Caballo, Caballo Lane, Canada Este Road, Old Calzada Road and Calzada Road, with an advisory to others in the area to be prepared for possible evacuation.
County sheriff's deputies were notifying residents in the area to evacuate, and plans were being made for any evacuated residents to gather at Los Olivos Elementary School where the Red Cross was setting up a shelter.
The evacuation orders for residents were lifted at approximatley 6 p.m.
At 3:45 p.m., firefighters estimated the blaze had blackened 50 to 60 acres, and said the forward progress was slowing down, Capt. Daniel Bertucelli said.
No structures had been damaged, Bertucelli added just before 4 p.m.
Many of the homes had good defensible space in place to protect the structures in case of a fire, Eliason said.
Aircraft also were dispatched to assist crews, with the force including at least four tankers and multiple helicopters, Bertucelli said. Bulldozers and hand crews also were involved in the firefighting effort.
Forward progress was stopped by 5 p.m. and helicopters were released from the incident.
Other crews remained on scene dealing with hot spots, Eliason said.
In addition to county firefighters, crews from the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Maria Fire Department, Lompoc Fire Department and Vandenberg Fire Department were dispatched for the incident.
Along with abnormally dry vegetation, firefighters had to deal with hot weather, with temperatures at 93 degrees, and winds at 15 mph, Eliason said.
Preparations were underway for livestock evacuations in the area, and burning fences led to a warning that livestock might be in the roadways in the area.
Personnel also were warned to be aware of downed power lines in the area of the fire.
Several roads were closed in the area due to the fire and firefighting equipment in the area.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
