Last Update: 09:00 A.M.
Santa Barbara County’s Rey Fire continued to grow over the weekend, passing the 23,000 acre mark.
The fire is burning deeper into wilderness areas northeast of the Santa Ynez Valley, moving into some areas which haven’t burned in recorded history.
It’s now 20% contained. More than 1200 firefighters are now battling the blaze, which started last Thursday.
While the blaze is burning away from populated areas, it is threatening critical watershed which supplies water to the South Coast.
A wind shift is expected at higher elevations later today, which will likely send more smoke to the front-country areas.
No homes have been lost.
Highway 154 is open, but Paradise Road remains closed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.