A wildfire that erupted in the mountains of Santa Barbara County in Southern California has burned more than 16,000 acres, prompting an evacuation order and threatening ranches, including Michael Jackson’s former Neverland Ranch, the authorities said.
The fire, called the Lake Fire, broke out shortly before 4 p.m. on Friday near Zaca Lake, just northeast of Los Olivos, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The cause of the fire, which was zero percent contained as of Sunday, remained under investigation.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for an area near the Los Padres National Forest that includes the property once known as Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, a 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos, about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
About 100 residents were affected by the evacuation order, said Kenichi Haskett, a public information officer for Cal Fire.
Persons:
Michael Jackson’s, Kenichi Haskett
Organizations:
California Department of Forestry, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s, Los Padres National, Cal Fire
Locations:
Santa Barbara County, Southern California, Zaca Lake, Los, Santa Barbara, Los Olivos, Los Angeles