Santa Maria

100 acres burn near Twitchell Reservoir

Crews from Cal Fire, Santa Barbara County and Santa Maria worked for more than four hours Sunday morning to contain a rapidly spreading grass fire on Highway 166 near Twitchell Reservoir east of Santa Maria.

The fire, reported just after 7 a.m., had reached 15 acres and was spreading quickly by the time firefighters arrived, according to Cal Fire.

By 11:25 a.m. the fire was fully contained at an estimated 100 acres, Cal Fire said. The cause was attributed to the failure of a spliced connector on a PG&E conductor, which allowed wind to knock down power lines.

No one was injured and no structures were destroyed.

In addition to five engines from Cal Fire and others from Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County, firefighters used two air tankers, a helicopter and two bulldozers to fight the flames.

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Gaviota Coast

Driver dies in rollover crash

A 43-year-old man was killed about 9 p.m. Saturday when he lost control of the car he was driving at high speed on Highway 101 southbound about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara.

The driver, whose name and hometown were not released pending notification of his relatives, was partially ejected through his 1997 Mercedes sedan's sun roof as the car rolled over several times on the right shoulder, according to the California Highway Patrol. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The car had passed several other vehicles at high speed and had just crossed the Arroyo Quemado Bridge when the accident occurred. A CHP spokesman said alcohol is believed to have been a factor, although the investigation is continuing.

- From staff reports

November 9, 2009