The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District along with AMR Ambulance responded about 2:30 p.m. Friday to a report of a woman in her 50s who had been bitten by a suspected shark while swimming near Padaro Lane in Summerland.
It was not confirmed but highly suspected to be a shark.
The woman said she was lap swimming about 60 feet from shore.
She was released from Cottage Hospital with relatively minor wounds, including two 1-inch lacerations to her foot.
Her estimate was that the probable shark was 5 feet to 6 feet long with a black dorsal fin. It bumped her and swam away quickly.
According to sheriff dispatch, there were several other sightings in the area, including Santa Claus Lane and Carpinteria State Park.
Santa Barbara County Parks will be posting “Shark Advisory Signs” at Santa Claus Lane and Loon Point in Summerland starting early Saturday morning. They will stay up through Sunday evening and may be extended if reports of sightings continue.
— Robert Kovach is a battalion chief for the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District.