Tropical Storm Hilary brings tornado, high speed winds to Central Coast fire

Update, 7:50 p.m.:

The Plant Fire in Santa Barbara County is more contained, but Tropical Storm Hilary introduced new threats to the containment.

A cell phone video shared by Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Office Scott Safechuck on Twitter shows what looks to be a tornado over the landscape.

“Tropical Storm Hilary continues to bring a threat of rain, thunderstorms, 40 mph erratic winds and funnel clouds over the burn area through Monday night,” read the incident report shared by Safechuck on Twitter.

The fire was 75% contained as of Monday at 4 p.m., according the report. Eight outbuildings were destroyed by the fire.

Firefighters did not observe any substantial growth in the blaze Sunday night into Monday, the report said.

More than 360 firefighters were on scene as of Monday afternoon, the report said.

Original story:

Rain from Tropical Storm Hilary helped put a damper on a wildfire burning in northern Santa Barbara County, according to fire officials.

“Despite erratic winds and challenging terrain, firefighters were able to make progress” controlling the Plant Fire in the New Cuyama area, Santa Barbara County Public Information Office Scott Safechuck said in a news release. “Rain in the area of the fire due to Tropical Storm Hilary also helped to diminish fire activity Sunday.”

The fire started at 1:25 p.m. Saturday at Aliso Park Road and Foothill Road in New Cuyama, according to the Cal Fire incident page.

As of 7:10 p.m. Sunday, the fire had burned a total of 5,464 acres and was 60% contained, Cal Fire said.

Firefighters from Los Padres National Forest, a division of the U.S. Forest Service, and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department were battling the blaze.

More than 630 firefighters from both agencies were deployed to the Plant Fire as of Sunday at 5 p.m., the release said.

About an hour later, the progress on the fire prompted agencies to release some of their resources, Santa Barbara County Fire said on social media.

Santa Barbara County evacuation orders lifted

Shortly after the Plant Fire started Saturday, evacuation orders will issued for Aliso Canyon to Wasioja Canyon and the Cottonwood Canyon area.

At 4:30 p.m. Sunday, officials lifted all evacuation orders related to the wildfire, the release said.

Residents were advised to travel cautiously as the roadways were wet and slick, the release said.

The cause of the Plant Fire is still under investigation, Cal Fire said.