CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 235,601 acres

Friday, August 24, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 235,601 acres - 83%

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 1:28 HRS. AGO

Zaca Fire Perimeter 08/24/07
Credit: Zaca Fire GIS / FIO

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Summary

ALERT !

DUE TO A CHANGE IN THE FIRE'S BEHAVIOR ON THE NORTH EAST SIDE, THE VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS NOW ORDERED A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION FOR AN AREA WEST OF HIGHWAY 33, BETWEEN OZENA AND BURGES CANYON ROAD.

ZACA FIRE UPDATE

Friday, August 24, 2007

12 o'clock noon

Fire Status:

Acres Burned: 235,601 acres

Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 3,152 acres

Fireline to Build: 7 miles

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

Percent Contained: 83 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 40

Structures Threatened: 66

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Resources:

Crews: 66

Engines: 98

Helicopters: 16

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 29

Water Tenders: 78

Total Personnel Assigned: 2,545

Cost to Date: $ 99.7 million

Headlines:

·· Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to the First Crossing Day Use Area.

·· Highway 33 from Wheeler Gorge to Quatal Canyon remains closed, except to residents. Fire officials hope to reopen Highway 33 to thru traffic by 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, contingent upon fire behavior and fire fighting success. At times, residents from the Ozena area may not be able to access their homes when firing operations next to the highway would result in unsafe driving conditions.

Current Situation:

Last night crews continued burning along the Brubaker Canyon Road until humidity became too high to successfully burn. Firing operations were completed along the Cuyama River wash for a one quarter mile stretch north of Rancho Nuevo Canyon. Today, crews will continue to build handline along the western perimeter of the fire north and south of the Sisquoc River. Several interior islands of unburned vegetation will continue to burn producing large columns of smoke. These islands do not threaten fireline integrity.

Natural resource advisors have begun to assess wildfire suppression rehabilitation needs and will begin rehabilitation work today. A Cobra helicopter with infrared technology will be used today to detect hot spots within the fire area.

The Live Oak Zone has reached full containment and efforts continue to be focused on furthering rehabilitation and restoration of those areas affected by the fire and suppression activities. There was significant progress yesterday in rehabilitation efforts. Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south side have been lifted, however, all areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry.

State Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures:

Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Quatal Canyon will be closed to all traffic until Sunday, August 26, except for residents. See headline above.
Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
East Camino Cielo Road is now open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is still closed east of Gibraltar Road because it is within the Forest closure.
Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to First Crossing Day Use Area.
The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. The closure includes lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern Counties. The expanded closure 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 www.inciweb.org or at a Los Padres National Forest office.

Evacuations:

A PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION is in effect for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line to Pine Mountain Summit.
Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are now open. The Santa Ynez River Road, beyond the First Crossing and all associated recreation facilities are closed.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Human Caused
Date of Origin	07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
Location	9 miles north of Santa Barbara
Incident Commander	Oplinger/ Hawkins

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,545
Size	235,601 acres
Percent Contained	83%
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	Live Oak Zone: Unburned fuel in the Santa Cruz drainage continued to actively burn back down slope. Richardson Zone: Minimal fire behavior.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone: Fire Suppression Rehab continuing. Richardson Zone: Hold and Mop up burnout operations in Division BB, and FF. Continue with firing and holding operations in Division BB and FF if conditions allow. Road closure for Hwy 33. Continue line construction from the Sierra Madre Ridge South into the Sisquoc river this evening.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Patrol and mop-up. Continue Fire Suppression Rehab. Richardson Zone: Div AA and BB direct line construction from Sierra Madre Ridge south in to the Sisquoc River. Continue firing in Div FF east to Hwy 33 and from Ozena north towards Brubaker Rd. Fixed wing air support on Div FF South. Hold and patrol Div CC, DD and HH. A precautionary evacuation continues west of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn and is being coordinated by Ventura County Sheriffs, assisted by Santa Barbara Sheriffs. Hwy 33 remains closed.
Projected Movement	Richardson Zone: West and North down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. North to Dry Canyon, East to Hwy 33.
Growth Potential	Extreme.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	Live Oak Zone: The Management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: High on ability to anchor and hold on Sierra Madre Ridge toward Hwy 33 and moderate from Pine Mtn. summit toward Ozena. Moderate on West perimeter.
Remarks	Richardson Zone: Block 16: Total zone mileage calculated at 62.5 miles. Contained zone mileage = 36.7 miles or 59%. 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.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	4 (g8) mph NE
Current Temperature	64 degrees
Current Humidity	47 %

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