Edhat StaffBy edhat staff
Local fire agencies are responding to a small brush fire in the Santa Maria Riverbed.
The fire started a little before 11:00 a.m. Wednesday with thick billowing plumes of dark smoke off Highway 101, just south of Highway 166, on the west side of the overpass bridge.
The fire is reportedly near a homeless encampment in the riverbed with a lot of dry brush nearby, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Santa Maria firefighters are on the scene and as of 11:15 a.m., crews have the fire contained with light smoke that is not affecting the highway.
This is a developing story.
