A flareup of the Sherpa brush fire has closed Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County, between Goleta and Buellton.
The closure happened during the 8 p.m. hour, with some vehicles getting stuck on the freeway, and being forced to turn around.
Just like the Thursday morning closure, northbound traffic coming into Santa Barbara is being routed onto Highway 154, through the Santa Ynez Valley, where travelers can rejoin 101 just past Los Olivos.
Southbound traffic out of the Central Coast is being diverted in Buellton and onto Highway 154.
The fire, which started Wednesday afternoon in Refugio Canyon, is still officially listed at about 1200 plus acres, but it has grown in size during the last few hours, as winds have returned to the fire zone.
