InciWeb UPDATE: Zaca Wildland Fire

Saturday, July 14, 2007

InciWeb UPDATE: Zaca Wildland Fire

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 7 MINUTES AGO

ANNOUNCEMENT

Precautionary Smoke Advisory for Areas Impacted by the Zaca Fire
Precautionary Smoke Advisory for Areas Impacted by the Zaca Fire Santa Barbara, CA - The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD)... more

Zaca Fire Perimeter Map 07/14/07

view pictures || view maps

Summary

Zaca Fire Update - July 14, 2007 11:15 a.m.

Current Situation: The fire made a significant run to the east in the San Rafael Wilderness, along the Hurricane Deck on Friday afternoon. However, the northeast portion of the fire is still holding at the Hurricane Deck Trail. Work in the wilderness continues to be a challenge due to the steep and rugged terrain. All efforts are being made to protect natural and cultural resources. Firefighters may continue to improve the north flank along the Sisquoc River, with burning operations this afternoon. Public and firefighter safety remains top priority.

Bulldozers will continue to construct line on San Rafael Ridge to Santa Cruz Peak as a primary holding line in case the fire continues to move east. Bulldozers also continue constructing secondary lines along the northwest side of the fire as a contingency to protect the community of Tepusquet if the fire should jump the Sisquoc River.

Safety Message: Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel. Fire Information fact sheets and display boards are placed throughout the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valley's to keep the communities updated on the status of the fire.

Media Message: Due to the expanded forest closure, media must be escorted by a PIO. Information Officers will be available to provide an escort at 12:00 noon, to an area which has been approved by Incident Operations. Credentialed Media should check in at the Incident Command Post at Live Oak Camp, prior to 12:00 noon for an escorted tour.

Additional Information: The fire has potential for increased growth and extended duration of wildfire suppression activities. Depending on wind conditions, smoke from the Zaca Fire may be visible over a wide area with occasional drift smoke as far away as Santa Barbara, Goleta or other areas of the county. If you would likemore information, please contact the Zaca Fire Information Unit at 805-961-5770 or go to http://www.fire.ca.gov/, http://www.inciweb.org/, or http://www.sbcfire.com/

Resources currently assigned to the fire:

Crews - 51

Engines - 79

Dozers - 40

Water Tenders - 42

Helicopters - 10 (operational during daylight hours)

Helitankers - 7 (operational during daylight hours)

U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire, and CAL FIRE, continue to operate under a Unified Command.

Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness (see "News" section)

Archery Season Impacted by the Zaca Fire Closure (see "News" section)

Fire Perimeter Map and Fire Area Closure Map - see "Maps" section of this update (also see Rancho Fire on this website for additional closure information)

Additional Fire Restrictions in Los Padres National Forest - see "News" section of this update

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Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Human Caused.
Date of Origin	07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
Location	15 miles north east of Buellton, CA.
Incident Commander	Howard Windsor - Rick Tod

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,131
Size	16,600 acres
Percent Contained	37%
Fuels Involved	Chaparral and Oak Woodlands. North Flank of the fire is burning in heavy, 40 year old fuels with high dead to live ratio. Fuel moisture levels are extremely low, and are at levels which are usually not seen until late in the summer.
Fire Behavior	The fire continues making a significant run in Hurricane Deck in the wilderness area. Additional firing will continued today on the slope above and south of the Sisquoc River. The south side continues to be successfully held along Zaca Ridge. West and north control objectives also continue to be achieved.
Significant Events	The Los Padres National Forest closures have been expanded and now encompass the entire San Rafael Wilderness and adjacent National Forest land roughly from Highway 166 on the north to the Buckhorn Road area on the south. The 382,000-acre area will be closed until further notice. Bulldozers continue to construct contingency line on the outside of the wilderness perimeter. Firefighters continue to have success at holding the fire on the south side to the Sisquoc River, east of School House Canyon, and the north side of Zaca Ridge.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continuing to build line to keep fire within the objectives by building direct and indirect line. Aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, continue to support daily ground actions. The priority will be to secure Divisions "D" and "E" through the implementation of the firing plan to secure the line to the Sisquoc River.
Projected Movement	The fire could grow larger in the next 12 to 24 hours.
Growth Potential	High.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	The fire continues to establish itself in the San Rafael Wilderness area. Management strategies identified in the WFSA and other contingencies continue to be implemented.
Remarks	A Joint Accident Investigation team is continuing to investigate the helicopter accident that occurred on 7/8/07. Estimated containment dates are difficult to determine at this time because the fire has become established in the San Rafael Wilderness. The current projection is that containment will require at least 14 days or more.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	4 mph NE
Current Temperature	59 degrees
Current Humidity	90 %

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Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Saturday, July 14, 2007