The hot spot in Los Padres National Forest is not from a natural underground fire. In August 2004, a mysterious patch of hot soil triggered a forest fire in Southern California’s Los Padres National Forest, burning 3 acres of land. Despite multiple research expeditions, scientists have been unable to determine the cause of the heat, though they have ruled out volcanic activity and nearby springs. The most likely hypothesis is a chemical reaction instigated by nearby landslide debris and various faults. The Fillmore underground fire, located just outside the Los Padres National Forest, is a separate occurrence fueled by hydrocarbons and exposed sulfide minerals, leading to continuous heat and surface fires. Therefore, the hot spot in the Los Padres National Forest is not from a natural underground fire, but rather from a yet-to-be-determined cause, possibly related to chemical reactions and geological factors[2][4].
Citations:
[1] https://www.firerescue1.com/ruralcommand/articles/unusual-underground-fire-burns-years-after-discovery-daA4JjOy7miLk0dJ/
[2] http://www.geotimes.org/jan06/NN_fieryhotspot.html
[3] https://archive.vcstar.com/news/underground-fire-continues-to-burn-north-of-fillmore-ep-363366221-352029931.html/
[4] https://spookygeology.com/fillmore-underground-fire/
[5] https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/special-reports/outdoors/2018/03/08/earth-fire-above-fillmore-and-underground-burn-has-gotten-bigger/374786002/
