CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS: Zaca Wildland Fire - 31,000 Acres

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Zaca Wildland Fire - 31,000 Acres - 51 percent Containment

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 2 MIN. AGO

ANNOUNCEMENT

Zaca Fire Evacuation Warning Lifted
Zaca Fire Evacuation Warning LiftedThe Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, in conjunction with the Joint Unified Incident Management Team, has lifted the "Evacuation Warning" ... more

Heavy helicopter loading retardant at helibase.
Credit: Mike Ferris - U.S. Forest Service

view pictures || view maps

Summary

Acres: 31,000 Acres Percent Containment: 51 percent Estimated Containment: July 27, 2007

Resources:

Hand Crews: 30; Dozers: 23; Engines: 17; Air Tankers: 2; Helicopters: 19; Water Tenders: 29; Overhead Personnel: 224; Total Personnel: 1,068; Injuries: 7; Structures Threatened: 0; Fire line to Build: 20 miles; Estimated Cost-to-Date: $29.4 million

Current Forest and Roads Closures:

Santa Barbara County Fire Officials have ordered the following road closures:

•§ Happy Canyon Road closed to the east at Baseline Road.

•§ Figueroa Mountain road closed to the east at Highway 154.

Los Padres National Forest Officials have ordered the following forest closures:

•· The Los Padres National Forest closure remains in effect from Hwy. 166 on the north to Hwy. 33 in Ventura County on the south. This closure will limit access to the San Rafael and Dick Smith Wilderness in order to insure the safety of citizens and fire personnel.

Significant Events: All evacuation warnings have been lifted. Crews remained on the fire line over night at Hell's Half Acre.

Current Situation: Due to a drier air mass, the fire remained active throughout the night. Type 1 hand crews along with the support of Helicopters are making significant progress in containment on the northeast, east, and southeast perimeter. Suppression rehab is now being completed on the west portion of the fire. All efforts are being made to protect natural and cultural resources. Public and firefighter safety remain the top priority.

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

Media Message: Due to fire equipment activity, Public Information Officers are available to provide media tours. Media should check in at the Live Oak Camp Incident Command Post for escorted tours by 11:00 am.

Additional Information: The fire continues to have 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.

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	Aaron Gelobter / Rick Tod

Current Situation

Total Personnel	1,068
Size	31,000 acres
Percent Contained	51%
Estimated Containment Date	07/27/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Chaparral and oak woodlands. North and east flanks of fire are burning in heavy, 40 year old fuels with high dead to live ratio. Fuel moisture levels are extremely low, at levels normally seen in late summer.
Fire Behavior	Due to a drier air mass, the fire remained active throughout the night with interior burning.
Significant Events	The fire made a short ru on the northeast side of McKinley Mountain last night taking advantage of fuels and less sheltered conditions.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Handline construction to continue on the northeast and southeast perimeter. Aerial patrol of the western perimeter. Crews to cold trail and secure fire's edge. Continue to survey for structure protection needs. Continue to inventory fireline for suppression rehabilitation needs.
Projected Movement	High potential for the fire to grow to the east and south.
Growth Potential	High.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	Suppression tactics continue to be successful in maintaining north and west flanks. Despite rugged terrain, poor access and extremely low fuel moisture crews are showing significant progress toward containment on the northeast, east and southeast perimeter with the support of helicopters.
Remarks	All evacuation orders have been lifted. Los Padres National Forest closure remains in effect (see map). All Los Padres NF lands are closed from Hwy 166 on the north roughly to Hwy 33 in northern Ventura County on the south, including the San Rafael, Dick Smith and Matilija Wilderness areas. Happy Canyon Road is closed to the east at Baseline Road. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed to the east at Hwy 154. The fire is being managed in a Unified Command with Santa Barbara County.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	7 mph N
Current Temperature	69 degrees
Current Humidity	30 %

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