Fire on Montecito Road Destroys Vehicle, Damages Outbuilding

A fire with unknown origins destroyed a vehicle and damaged an outbuilding at a home at 2015 Montecito Road Tuesday afternoon, Ramona Fire Department/Cal Fire Batallion Chief Burke Kremensky said.

California Highway Patrol Officer Joe Nielsen said he was on Montecito Road responding to a road hazard when he spotted the smoke and placed a call for emergency responders just after noon.

Kremensky said seven fire engines, three crews, two Sheriff's Department helicopters, two air tankers, an air attack plane and a water tender from Intermountain Fire and Rescue responded.

Cal Fire and U.S. Forest Service were among the resources used.

According to Kremensky, the fire started somewhere near a vehicle and an outbuilding on the property and spread to a lot next door, burning approximately 1/4 of an acre of brush.

"I really want to emphasize that the property owners had kept brush cleared and the lawn was mowed and that really helps us put out the fire quickly," Kremensky said.

Nielsen said that the homeowners were home at the time of the fire, but were evacuated quickly. The home did not have any fire damage.

According to Kremensky, firefighters contained the fire within 15 minutes and expected the mop up to be finished by 2 p.m.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.