CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: ZACA wildland Fire - 101,472 acres

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Inciweb: ZACA wildland Fire - 101,472 acres - 44%

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 11:00 hrs.

Zaca Fire Perimeter Map - 08/14/07
Credit: Zaca Fire GIS/FIO Unit

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Summary

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:00 AM

Red Flag Notification Has Been Issued

See Announcements

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 101,472 acres

Fireline to Build: 24 miles

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

Percent Contained: 44 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 25

Structures Threatened: 595

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Resources

Crews: 74

Engines: 95

Helicopters: 21

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 2

Dozers: 41

Water Tenders: 69

Total Personnel Assigned: 2,783

Cost to Date: $69.2 million

Current Situation

The significant smoke that was visible yesterday was caused by dense brush within the interior of the fire burning well inside the containment line to the west of Little Pine Mountain. An additional island may burn today as pockets of unburned fuel remain in the same area. These areas are being monitored and any necessary action will be taken should they pose a threat. Crews continued to make progress on the containment line in the Indian Creek drainage and continuing north along the eastern flank of the fire. Favorable wind conditions have enabled firefighters to build firelines with direct attack tactics as the fire progresses to the North and Northeast. Crews will continue these operations as long as they remain effective and safe. To date, over 120 miles of containment line have been completed by firefighters. Tanker 910, the converted DC-10, made two additional drops on the fire yesterday in support of the line construction process. Santa Barbara County announced a "Red Flag Alert" yesterday as a reminder to local residents to be fire safe. Additionally, residents are being asked to report any suspicious observations or concerns to 9-1-1.

Last night, firefighters continued a backfire operation along the Sierra Madre Ridge from Sweetwater east towards Santa Barbara Canyon. The glow of the fire could be seen from Cuyama Valley. The active burning is still within the lines established to control this fire. Today, the fire will continue to be active in Logan, Alamar and Santa Barbara Canyon areas. Firefighters will continue to backfire along the indirect fire line established on Sierra Madre Ridge from Sweetwater Canyon towards Highway 33. The backfire operation is still 10 miles from Hwy 33. The active fire, burning in the interior, will continue to produce significant smoke and ash. The smoke and ash are not the result of the backfire operation.

The Camino Cielo Fuel Break contingency line has been finished. Other contingency lines in the areas of Paradise, Camuesa Road, the Sierra Madre Ridge, Pendola Road, and the Matilija Wilderness are nearing completion. When completed, these lines will reduce the need for firing operations and will provide firefighters with other suppression options that may be needed in the event that changing conditions warrant such action.

Forest, Road and Area Closures

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 Los Padres National Forest expanded closure is in effect. It encompasses approximately 649,000 acres and is between Hwy 166 in northern Santa Barbara County and Highway 33 and Matilija Canyon in Ventura County. Detailed information on the closure can be found at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ or your local Forest Service Office.

Evacuations

The EVACUATION ORDER for Paradise Road residents, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch has been downgraded to an EVACUATION WARNING.
The Santa Ynez River Road campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads remain closed.

{Spanish translation removed}

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	Molumby/ Schmit/ Dietrich

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,783
Size	101,472 acres
Percent Contained	44%
Estimated Containment Date	09/07/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Heavy brush contains a high dead component. Some conifers at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures (49%)are well below critical levels. A continuous fuel bed lies ahead of the fire's dominant spread direction.
Fire Behavior	South side of fire: Active fire was observed overnight as the fire backed downslope into the Upper Alamar Canyon. North side of fire: Active fire behavior with 70 foot flame lengths. The fire will run when aligned with slope(s).
Significant Events	South side of the fire: Paradise Road is now under an evacuation warning, and open to residents only. The Santa Ynez River Recreation Area remains under an evacuation order, and is closed to everyone. North side of the fire: The fire has burned through Judell Canyon and Logan Canyon. A burnout operation was initiated north of Judell Canyon and Logan Canyon with burnout depth ranging from 500 feet to one quarter mile. Continue coordination efforts along Highway 33 with Ventura Co. Sheriffs Office, Santa Barbara Co. Sheriffs Office, Ventura Division of California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara Division of California Highway Patrol, Ventura Division of California Dept. of Transportation and Santa Barbara Division of California Dept. of Transportation.

Outlook

Planned Actions	South side of fire: Patrol, mop-up, and improve existing control lines. Build direct line on the S/E corner tying into the Don Victor Jeepway. Prepare for burnout and holding operations. Structure preparation and fuel reduction will continue in the Paradise and Camino Cielo Branch. Perform recon, planning and contingency line construction on the far south east side of the fire. Scout for future firing operations. North side of the fire: Continue burnout operation north of Judell Canyon and Logan Canyon, bringing fire east to the north eastern side of the fire. Monitor fire spread decision points to guide burnout actions.
Projected Movement	Because of Red Flag Warning conditions, the fire is expected to accelerate spreading to the north and east.
Growth Potential	Extreme.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	Selected strategy has been successful in keeping the fire moving to the north. The predicted weather has increased fire activity and will challenge firefighting efforts over the next 2-3 days. There is a moderate possibility that the containment target will be met, based on the ability to anchor and hold the fire on Sierra Madre Ridge.
Remarks	This incident status summary reflects the percentage of containment line completed and containment line to build, for the planned strategy of direct and indirect control lines. Total personnel on the north side of the fire, total 875. Acres, line to build, cost, and structures threatened/lost are the combined total of both the north and the south side of the fire. The break down is as follows: Acres: South-83,894 acres North:17,578 acres. Line to build: South 14 miles, North 10 miles. Cost: South 64,400,000 North: 4,844,435 Structures threatened: South 515, North 80.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	5 mph NE
Current Temperature	72 degrees
Current Humidity	29 %

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