CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 215,692 acres

Monday, August 20, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 215,692 acres - 77 percent

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 21 MIN. AGO

ANNOUNCEMENT

Precautionary Evacuation Issued Highway 33 Closed To All Traffic
Zaca Fire News ... more

map: Zaca Fire Perimeter, August 20, 2007

Zaca Fire Perimeter, August 20, 2007 (Active fire is red)
Credit: Zaca Fire Geographic Information

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Summary

ALERT !.....

Updated 8/20/07 6:20pm

At 2:28pm Monday the 20th of August a fire was reported near the Cemetary south of the City of Lompoc (approximate lat 34 37.758, lon 120 26.709). This fire was initially reported at 80 acres and had grown to 250 acres as of 6:00pm. The fire is moving to the east-southeast. Resources from the Zaca Fire are being diverted to the area. The fire has crossed Hwy 1 near Santa Rosa Road as it is moving with the prevailing winds.
Hwy 1 is closed from Hwy 101 north to Lompoc.
A Evacuation Warning is in effect for all residents along Jalama Road and for residents along portions of Santa Rosa Road from Hwy 1 extending 5 miles toward the east-southeast. No orders for evacuation have been made as of 6:00pm. Residents in the area should remain alert for changing conditions. Residents in the warning area should begin preperations immediately in case the order to evacuate is given. Resources such as helicopters, bulldozers and hand crews have been dispatched to the scene. Engines are on scene to provide structure protection. Residents can call (805) 681 5546 for recorded information. As of 6:15 estimated containment is at 50%. Investigators have been dispatched to the scene.

ZACA FIRE UPDATE

Monday, August 20, 2007 8:00 PM (2000 hours)

Joint Unified Command: U.S. Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Fire Department

www.sbcfire.com/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or www.inciweb.org/

Zaca Fire Information Line: (805) 961-5770

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 215,692 acres

Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 967 acres

Fireline to Build: 3 miles

Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am

Percent Contained: 77 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 35

Structures Threatened: 581

Structured Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Resources

Crews: 69

Engines: 125

Helicopters: 22 (operational only during daylight hours)

Air Tankers: 8 (operational only during daylight hours)

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 56

Water Tenders: 80

Total Personnel Assigned: 3,162

Cost to Date: $ 87.4 million

Current Situation

On the northwest perimeter, the fire is well established in Foresters Leap Canyon on the north rim of Sisquoc Canyon. Incident Commanders are planning a backfire operation along the Sierra Madre Ridge to contain the northern progress of the fire. On the northeast perimeter, the fire has actively burned in the Dick Smith Wilderness and is now less than a mile from the eastern boundary of the wilderness. This evening, firefighters will continue backfiring from the Cuyama Lookout Road towards Highway 33 along Dry Canyon. On the southeast perimeter, firefighters suspended backfire operations today near Potrero Seco Ranch and Pine Mountain Summit due to spot fires over the established dozer lines. All spot fires have been contained except for one. Tonight, firefighters will continue backfiring from Pine Mountain Summit to Ozena. These backfire operations are intended to provide a good secure line on the northeast and southeast perimeters of the fire.

Today, hand crews constructed fireline directly next to the fire's edge along the south eastern portion of the fire. Secondary dozer lines were constructed below the direct handline in support of obtaining containment objectives. Some burning occurred in the interior section of the southwestern area of the fire. Rehabilitation of firelines and contingency lines will begin tomorrow.

Due to predicted low humidity, a red flag warning has been issued for the fire area until Wednesday night.

Firefighting resources staged at the Ventura County Fairgrounds are creating and reopening fuel breaks, clearing roads, and providing structure protection. The firefighters will also be available for initial attack for Ventura County and the Los Padres National Forest.

Forest, Road and Area Closures

Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa will be closed to all traffic except for residents.
Happy Canyon Road is closed at Los Padres National Forest boundary.
Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
East Camino Cielo is closed between Painted Cave Road and Gibraltar Road due to fire equipment traffic.
Paradise Road is within the Evacuation Warning Area and is currently open to residents only.
The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest has been expanded to include additional lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties. The expanded closure now encompasses approximately 888,000 acres including the entire San Rafael, Matilija and Chumash Wildernesses, a portion of the Sespe Wilderness and adjacent national forest lands. Detailed information on the closure can be found at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ or the Forest Service.

Evacuations

A PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit.

The EVACUATION ORDER for Paradise Road residents, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch has been downgraded to an EVACUATION WARNING.
An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake.
The Santa Ynez River Road campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads remain closed.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Human Caused
Date of Origin	07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
Location	15 miles NE of Buellton
Incident Commander	Oplinger/ Childers/ Dietr

Current Situation

Total Personnel	3,162
Size	215,692 acres
Percent Contained	77%
Estimated Containment Date	09/07/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifer at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels. A continuous fuel bed lies ahead of the fire.
Fire Behavior	South Operations: The Fire is holding at the Monte Arido Fuel Break and the Pendola Jeepway. Smoldering and creeping occurred within the Caliente drainage with little active fire spread. Unburned islands continue to burnout in several drainages. North Operations: With Red flag Warning in effect today, Strong winds, high temps, and extremely low relative humidity in combination with exceptionally dry, heavy fuels in alignment with wind and slope produced intense fire behavior.
Significant Events	South Operations: The Paradise Road and Santa Ynez River Recreation remain under an evacuation warning, open to residents only. Existing fire line held. Unfavorable winds caused discontinuation of back firing. Crews and Dozers are constructing direct line from Hildreth Jeepway and Pendola Jeepway into Agua Caliente Canyon. North Operations: Continued burning operations today in several areas. Hold and monitor operations in some divisions. Increasing fire activity with northwest fire spread. Aggressive suppression action with airtankers, helicopters and ground forces is ongoing along Hwy 33. A precautionary evacuation is in progress and is being coordinated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, assisted by the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department. Hwy 33 remains closed. Ventura Operations: Provided a strike team and a task force of type 3 engines to North Operations,to support suppression actions on Highway 33 near Pine Mountain.

Outlook

Planned Actions	South Operations:Patrol, mop-up, and improve existing control lines. Construct direct handline and dozer line operations along the Hildreth Jeepway and Pendola Jeepway, into Agua Caliente Canyon when conditions permit. Perform recon, planning and contingency line construction in the Live Oak Contingency Branch and the Santa Barbara Front Country from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas. Fire suppression Rehab has begun. Ventura Operations: Improve existing fuel breaks with safety zones and connect existing fuel breaks as needed.
Projected Movement	South Operations: Continued smoldering within the Caliente drainages with short uphill runs. Burnout will still be needed and active threat to containment lines in Caliente Canyon. Active fire spread in the unburned islands north of Little Pine Mountain. North Operations: West and north down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. Southeast toward Matilija Wilderness
Growth Potential	Extreme.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	South Operations: The direct and indirect strategy should succeed by 9/7 with success of the backfire. North Operations: Moderate based on ability to anchor and hold on Sierra Madre Ridge toward Hwy 33 and moderate from Pine Mtn Summit toward Ozena. Poor on West perimeter.
Remarks	South Operations: The fire is in a smoldering condition in Agua Caliente Canyon. A Direct attack with Crews and dozers is continuing. One injury today was heat related. North Operations: A Precautionary Evacuation Order is in place for the area west of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn. Road Closure in effect on Hwy 33; Closed to all traffic from Pine Mountain Summit to Ozena. All other areas are open to residents.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	6 (g-18) mph SE
Current Temperature	97 degrees
Current Humidity	7 %

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