Washington, Aug 18 (DPA) Firefighters Monday had largely contained a wildfire near Santa Barbara, California and were working to contain another near Santa Cruz.

The 35,000 hectare blaze in the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Barbara was 75 percent contained Monday. About 2,100 firefighters were working against the fire.

Authorities said the fire could be traced back to a campfire at an illegal marijuana farm in the wilderness outside the wealthy oceanfront community. The Santa Barbara sheriff department said the farm was possibly run by a Mexican drug cartel.

Police had been searching since last month for drug camps among the steep hills and ravines of the California countryside.