Dramatic footage has emerged of a Californian fire brigade containing a fire in Santa Barbara County, CA, USA.

The video, shot on Thursday, shows the fire burning only a few metres from houses.

"The flames burned themselves out around the homes where the dirt had been plowed and flammable materials removed" the filmer wrote online.

Proper defensible space most definitely saved several homes overnight on the ‪#‎ScherpaFire‬ in Santa Barbara County.

Watch this video and come along with me as I follow CAL FIRE SLO's Strike Team sent to assist U.S. Forest Service - Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Department assigned to structure protection along Refugio Road. Winds were pushing 50MPH in steep terrain with heavy tree and shrub growth for fuel. Wind driven fire came over the hill which I thought surely would engulf the 2 homes we were standing at. With minimal firefighter intervention however, the flames burned themselves out around the homes where the dirt had been plowed and flammable materials removed. A few families are going to be very happy when they head back to their properties.

The latest estimate by night air operations as of about 1AM was 1100 acres 0% containment, but expect new numbers late morning. CAL FIRE SLO, Fresno, Monterey, Riverside as well as a host of local agencies are assisting. As of 8AM HIghway 101 is back open in both directions.