As questions linger about the cause of pop icon Michael Jackson's death, Santa Barbara authorities were meeting Tuesday to discuss the location of the star's memorial service.
FOX News confirmed Tuesday that county officials were meeting about potential plans to hold the funeral and public viewing at the Neverland Ranch, but details of those plans have yet to be made public.
"The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is willing to accommodate the Jackson family with whatever request they have regarding a funeral procession, should they have one," County Fire spokesman Capt. David Sadecki said.
Sadecki said he had not yet talked to participants in the ongoing meetings but expected an update later Tuesday afternoon.
But a Santa Barbara County law enforcement official said later that Jackson's family had yet to reach out to them, the Associated Press reports. Sheriff's Lt. Butch Arnoldi said authorities held a meeting based on speculation about a memorial at Neverland.
Neverland is located in the rolling hills of central California's wine country, about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
Rick Quintero, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said the department had not received a request for a motorcade as of Tuesday morning. He said if the motorcade crosses through the department's jurisdiction, as it likely would from Los Angeles to Neverland, they would need to be notified.
In an open letter to the Santa Barbara community, Thomas J. Barrack Jr., who set up a joint venture with Jackson that took ownership of the 2,500-acre Neverland property, warned residents that the world will quickly descend on Santa Barbara as fans grieve.
"We must also prepare to accommodate Michael's family's wishes as they contemplate the location of his final resting place and their own return to the tranquil grounds of the Michael Jackson family compound."
The California Highway Patrol has internal meetings under way to plan for a Jackson caravan that could bring Southern California's congested highways to a standstill. Sgt. Mark Garrett said the agency had not been notified of the family's plans, but was preparing nonetheless.
"It's just like when the president comes to town," Garrett said. "We want to ensure people are not putting themselves in danger."
At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death Thursday. Scores of fans have streamed past the gated entrance to leave handwritten notes, photographs, balloons and flowers.
He was 29 and at the height of his popularity when he bought the ranch, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan, where boys never grow up. There, he surrounded himself with animals, rides and children.
Jackson fled the ranch — and the country — after his acquittal on charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003 at the estate.
Jackson moved luxury cars, artwork, jewelry, costumes and other property off the ranch last year for an auction that never occurred.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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