CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 95%

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED

Helicopter assisting with firing operation.
Credit: Casey Christie - The Bakersfield Californian

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Summary

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 8:00 AM

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 240,207 acres

Fireline to Build: 2 miles

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

Percent Contained: 95 percent

Expected Containment: September 4, 2007

Injuries: 42

Structures Threatened: 32

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Cost to date: $107.7 million dollars

Resources

Crews: 50

Engines: 99

Helicopters: 22

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 20

Water Tenders: 71

Personnel Assigned: 2,195

Headlines

Due to successful firefighting efforts on the northeastern edge of the Zaca Fire, Highway 33 is entirely open to the public. Please be mindful that there is the potential for fire engine traffic along this route for the next few days and travel with caution.
The RECOMMENDED EVACUATION in the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33 has been lifted.

Current Situation

Crews continue to make progress with rehabilitation efforts along fire lines and roads in the Live Oak Zone of the Zaca Fire. In addition to rehabilitation work the Live Oak Zone will be monitored by aircraft.

Monday's higher humidity allowed fire suppression resources another day to improve fireline in the Brubaker Canyon area just west of Highway 33. Today, a combination of ground and aerial resources will continue to construct fireline around the north end of the spot fire near Cuyama Peak. Over the next three days, predicted lower relative humidity, higher temperatures and potential increased fire activity will test containment lines. Aerial infrared photography will be used to identify hot spots and ground patrols will work to extinguish problem areas, primarily along completed fireline in the Sisquoc River drainage and the northern perimeter of the fire.

Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south have been lifted. All areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry; including the Snyder Trail, a popular mountain bike trail.

Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures

Highway 33 is entirely open to the public.
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 open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is 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

The RECOMMENDED EVACUATION in the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33 has been lifted.
Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are 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	Opliger/ Hawkins

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,195
Size	240,207 acres
Percent Contained	95%
Estimated Containment Date	09/04/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifers 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 (South section): The fire in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage continues to creep around. Richardson Zone (Northeastern section): Limited fire activity was observed; some interior burning with no growth in perimeter.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone (South section): Progress was made in suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone (Northeastern section): Crews continued to line and mop up.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Patrol by air. Continue fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Monitor and mop up 100% of the slopovers in Divisions CC and DD. In Division FF, patrol and mop up all spot fires and mop up 1000 feet from structures. Continue suppression rehabilitation efforts.
Projected Movement	Projected incident movement in Richardson Zone: north to Dry Canyon and east to Highway 33.
Growth Potential	Medium.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	Live Oak Zone: the fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: There is high potential for success of the fire management strategy by Sept. 4th.
Remarks	Live Oak Zone: Type 2 Incident Management Team, Southern CA Team 1,will shadow CIIMT (Oplinger) today and assume command on 8/29/07.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	Not available
Current Temperature	59 degrees
Current Humidity	45 %

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