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New Fire Erupts in Los Alamos

UPDATE: Drum Fire kept below 14 acres; crews released back to fight Thomas.

New Fire Erupts in Los Alamos
Photo of smoke from the Drum Fire seen from Bob’s Well Bread in Los Alamos

[Update, 4:30 p.m.]: The Drum Fire appears to have been kept to below 14 acres as fire crews are being released from the Los Alamos area blaze back south to fight the Thomas Fire. The Drum's estimated size was reduced from earlier Saturday afternoon when first responders initially thought up to 100 acres had burned. Full containment is expected later tonight.

Fire personnel from Santa Barbara County, Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Vandenberg Air Force Base attacked it with dozers and hand crews. Air tankers and helicopters swooped in from above. The Drum Fire's sized matched the scale of the Coast Fire, which sparked Thursday afternoon on San Julian Road off Highway 1, south of Lompoc.

The causes of both fires remain under investigation.