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Wildfire Forces Highway 101 Closure Near Goleta

 FIRE WATCH: Complete Fire Coverage

 WEATHER: Complete Weather Coverage

GOLETA, Calif. (AP) ― Firefighters in Santa Barbara County are battling 200-acre wildfire in the Gaviota coast area that's shut down a nearly 20-mile stretch of Highway 101.

Fire Incident Commander Bob Dell says the blaze started about 8 p.m. Monday just north of the 101 and burned across the highway before pushing down to the ocean.

He says it's about 70 percent contained, but high temperatures, low humidity and winds of up to 40 miles per hour are making it difficult to bring fully under control.

Dell says the fire also damaged railroad tracks alongside the highway. At least one northbound freight shipment has been held up.

There's no word yet on what sparked the blaze.

(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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