Videos Show Loma Fire in Santa Barbara Rage Near TV Studios

Several videos of California's Loma Fire—a Santa Barbara wildfire that broke Thursday around 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles—shared on social media have captured the blaze burning near television studios.

The fire threatened dozens of homes and other buildings, including television stations in an area known locally as TV Hill, according to a spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Mike Eliason.

There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, the Associated Press reported.

Several parts of the surrounding area were evacuated, including the KEYT television station, due to the fire which burned at least 20 acres "with a rapid rate of spread," Eliason tweeted Thursday.

The vegetation fire broke at around 9 p.m. local time Thursday on the hillside between Miramonte Drive and Loma Alta Drive, the department told the Los Angeles Times.

Evacuation orders have since been lifted, while a portion of Loma Alta Drive remains closed, Santa Barbara Police tweeted early Friday morning.

KEYT news anchor Alys Martinez shared footage of the blaze "burning right up to our KEYT and KCOY studios," she wrote in a tweet late Thursday posting the video.

"Our @HennesseeTV got this video of the flames burning close to our back door," wrote Martinez.

A producer at KEYT, Bryce Hanamoto, tweeted late Thursday a dramatic aerial shot of what he described as a "fire right below the TV station in #SantaBarbara."

CBS News also tweeted footage of the fire burning "dangerously close to CBS Santa Barbara affiliate KEYT's newsroom," it wrote alongside the video.

Following decreased winds, the fire was reported to be 40 percent contained and forward progress has stopped, Eliason tweeted late Thursday.

Santa Barbara Police tweeted early Friday: "Evacuation order has been LIFTED. Community Members can now return to their homes.

"Loma Alta Dr. from W. Canon Perdido St. to Coronel St. will remain closed," the police added.

"Repopulation" was expected to begin from around 12:30 a.m. local time Friday and firefighters were expected to be on the scene throughout the night, Eiason tweeted late Thursday.

Newsweek has contacted the Santa Barbara County Fire Department for further comment.

A Red Flag Warning was in effect Thursday for the Southern California region due to gusty winds and low humidity.

Such warnings are issued for weather events that could result in "extreme fire behavior that will occur within 24 hours," the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) explains.

CAL FIRE tweeted earlier Thursday: "This is #CriticalFireWeather so use caution outdoors.

"California has already experienced a significant increase in the number of wildfires and acres burned compared to this time last year. With this rise in fire activity, now more than ever it's critical that all Californians are prepared for wildfires," the department said Thursday.