Hope Ranch geological phenomenon sparks vegetation fire in Santa Barbara

Fire crews responded to a vegetation fire on Tuesday near the Hope Ranch neighborhood in Santa Barbara County, California. The fire, which burned approximately half an acre of brush, was caused by a recurring geological phenomenon known locally as the ‘Hope Ranch Volcano’.

The event occurs when rock slides expose iron sulfides and hydrocarbons in the earth to oxygen, creating a chain reaction of heat. This solfatara vents steam and sulfurous gases and has a history of periodically causing flare-ups.

While the fire posed a modest threat to nearby structures, emergency responders, including engine crews and Copter 308, were deployed to manage the situation near the coastal bluffs.