Fire burns hundreds of acres along Highway 166
August 22, 2026
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
A fire that started Saturday morning is burning along Highway 166 south of the Carrizo Plain. The blaze, dubbed the Carrizo Fire, has burned 268 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Shortly after 11 a.m., a caller reported the fire burning along Highway 166 near Caliente Mountain Trail in San Luis Obispo County. The fire has the potential to reach 1,000 acres in size, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The blaze is burning on both sides of the highway. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for the area north of Highway 166 between Spanish Ranch and Cottonwood Road near New Cuyama.
Firefighters are battling the blaze from both the ground and the air. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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