SLO County vegetation fire erupts in the hills of east of Santa Margarita

A vegetation fire was burning Thursday afternoon in the hills east of Santa Margarita.

Cal Fire said the so-called Snake Fire had the potential to burn up to 50 acres.

Ambulance dispatched to scene of fire

Update 2:01 p.m.

An ambulance was en route to the scene of the fire at about 2:02 p.m. according to discussion on the police scanner.

Meanwhile, the fire had expanded to a 10-acre plot of grass and oak woodland by 2 p.m.

The blaze then hopped from grass to brush, which burns hotter.

Ten structures were in the area but not immediately threatened by the blaze, according to the police scanner.

Original story:

A vegetation fire ignited in the hills east of Santa Margarita on Thursday afternoon.

Cal Fire crews were responding to the location, which was between Highway 58 and Santa Margarita Lake, on Huer Huero Road near the intersection with Parkhill Road, according to emergency radio traffic.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the blaze was "a couple of acres burning in grass oak woodland," Cal Fire said in a post on X.

There's a potential for the fire to expand to 50 acres, Cal Fire spokesperson Toni Davis told The Tribune.

An air tanker and a few helicopters responded to the fire, according to discussion on the police scanner, and the ALERT California camera network showed aircraft dropping retardant on the site.

The fire was first reported at 1:31 p.m., according to the emergency response application PulsePoint.

Vegetation Map Near Huer Huero and Parkhill