Santa Barbara County, California – A fiery vehicle collision triggered a vegetation fire on Highway 154 west of the summit near Paradise Road.

Three vehicles were involved in the crash. Two patients with moderate to major injuries were transported by ground ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage ER.

Upon arrival, fire crews found one vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The fire had spread to nearby vegetation.

The vegetation fire grew to approximately half an acre with a low rate of spread.

Firefighters used hose lines, hand tools, and coordinated with SBC ASU Copt 964 for aerial water drops to contain the flames.

Highway 154 was closed in both directions for about an hour.

The incident, named the “Marcos Incident,” saw its forward progress stopped at 12:35 p.m.

Fire crews remained on the scene to mop up remaining hot spots. Copt 964 was released from the response.

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