TUESDAY UPDATE: Soberanes Fire caused by illegal unattended campfire, Cal Fire saysCal Fire and U.S. Forest Service officials have not released any information about leads their investigators are following as they try to determine what caused the Soberanes Fire.Some Central Coast residents asked KSBW on its Facebook page if the 41,000-acre wildfire was intentionally sparked by an arsonist.When two groups of men who claimed to be "lost hikers" were rescued and sheriff's deputies determined they were really illegal marijuana growers in Garrapata State Park, many wondered if they were to blame.The most recent, and odd, rumor circulating around the Monterey Peninsula blames furry ocean animals floating in the ocean nearby-- sea otters.When flames first sparked on the morning of July 22, the wildfire was only a few acres.One Palo Colorado Canyon resident said it spread out of control before firefighters could contain it because helicopters were denied access to collect ocean water by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary because it would disturb sea otters."They said there was a large otter population in that area and stated it would cause undo stress on the otter population," the homeowner allegedly told shoppers at a Carmel Valley Safeway store.Sea otters are federally protected in the Monterey Bay.As it turns out, the sea otters were wrongly accused for causing the blaze to flare out of control.KSBW's news crews shot video showing Cal Fire helicopters scooping water out of the ocean during the early hours of the wildfire.Scott Kathey of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary said firefighting helicopters always have clearance to collect ocean water during an emergency.The true cause of the Soberanes Fire remains under investigation.PHOTOS: Most dramatic photos of the Soberanes Fire

TUESDAY UPDATE: Soberanes Fire caused by illegal unattended campfire, Cal Fire says

Cal Fire and U.S. Forest Service officials have not released any information about leads their investigators are following as they try to determine what caused the Soberanes Fire.

Some Central Coast residents asked KSBW on its Facebook page if the 41,000-acre wildfire was intentionally sparked by an arsonist.

When two groups of men who claimed to be "lost hikers" were rescued and sheriff's deputies determined they were really illegal marijuana growers in Garrapata State Park, many wondered if they were to blame.

The most recent, and odd, rumor circulating around the Monterey Peninsula blames furry ocean animals floating in the ocean nearby-- sea otters.

When flames first sparked on the morning of July 22, the wildfire was only a few acres.

One Palo Colorado Canyon resident said it spread out of control before firefighters could contain it because helicopters were denied access to collect ocean water by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary because it would disturb sea otters.

"They said there was a large otter population in that area and stated it would cause undo stress on the otter population," the homeowner allegedly told shoppers at a Carmel Valley Safeway store.

Sea otters are federally protected in the Monterey Bay.

As it turns out, the sea otters were wrongly accused for causing the blaze to flare out of control.

KSBW's news crews shot video showing Cal Fire helicopters scooping water out of the ocean during the early hours of the wildfire.

Scott Kathey of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary said firefighting helicopters always have clearance to collect ocean water during an emergency.

The true cause of the Soberanes Fire remains under investigation.

PHOTOS: Most dramatic photos of the Soberanes Fire