This was a controlled burn which allegedly got out of controll.
Here is one of the newsarticles about this fire:
http://www.sbsun.com/news/articles/0602/01/new01.asp
There are several citizens in the county who allege that certain areas are burned for the purpose of making the land easier for development. When an area of land has been damaged by fire there are reduced environmental protections.
I am conducting some research as to the land's current ownership. There may be plans for new development for that area. We shall see.