InciWeb NEWS: Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness

Fighting The Zaca Fire in The San Rafael Wilderness

Incident: Zaca
Released: 2007-07-13 23:30:00 ET

Fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness

July 13, 2007

·· The San Rafael Wilderness has a history of large fires. The terrain is extremely rugged and there are very few suitable ridgetops or other landscape features where firefighters can safely construct lines that can hold the fire. Firefighters are taking advantage of every safe and effective opportunity to keep the Zaca Fire from spreading further into the wilderness.

·· Wilderness areas are set aside by Congress to protect their primitive character. Mechanized and motorized equipment is generally prohibited in these areas. During a fire emergency the Forest Supervisor can approve the use of certain equipment such as chainsaws and portable water pumps, and the construction of temporary helicopter landing spots. The Forest Supervisor has authorized these tools for use in fighting the Zaca Fire in the San Rafael Wilderness.

·· Use of bulldozers or tractors in wilderness areas requires approval from the Regional Forester who must consider whether the benefit of using the equipment outweighs the negative effects on the wilderness landscape. Because of the rugged broken terrain there are very limited opportunities to use dozers in the San Rafael Wilderness. Bulldozers are not currently being used in the San Rafael Wilderness, but have been very effective in building line in the more suitable terrain outside the wilderness.

·· Water and retardant-dropping aircraft have been used extensively on the Zaca Fire to slow its spread. They have been an essential tool in this firefighting effort. Airtankers and helicopters alone do not stop wildfires. They help to cool and slow down the spread of the fire so that firefighters can get closer to the fire and construct control lines. The Forest Supervisor has granted permission to use fire retardant on the Zaca Fire within the wilderness. Firefighters follow guidelines to minimize any effects on the wilderness values; for example, they avoid dropping retardant in streams.