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Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Inciweb update: Zaca Wildland Fire - 71,300 acres - 68 percent

Inciweb update: Zaca Wildland Fire - 71,300 acres - 68 percent
Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 07:30 PM

Shaded relief map with the fire area overlayed on it.

Credit: Zaca Fire GIS Section

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Summary

Afternoon Update

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Location: 15 miles northeast of Buellton, Santa Barbara County

Joint Unified Incident Management Teams: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Dept

Start Date & Report Time: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 AM

Acres: 71,300 acres

Percent Containment: 68 percent

Estimated Containment September 7, 2007

Resources: Hand Crews: 70; Dozers: 17; Engines: 111; Water Tenders: 29; Helicopters: 16; Air Tankers: 8; Air Attack: 2; Total Personnel: 2,322; Injuries: 13; Structures Threatened: 515; Fireline-to-Build: 44 miles; Estimated Cost-to-Date: $52.3 million

Significant Events: An EVACUATION ORDER for Paradise Road and Lower Santa Ynez River Road to Gibraltar Dam remains in effect. The Evacuation Order includes the Paradise Road Community, Santa Ynez Road Recreational Areas to Gibraltar Dam, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch. An EVACUATION ORDER continues for the Peachtree Community. An EVACUATION WARNING remains in place for Happy Canyon Road north of Baseline Road, including the ranches between Lake Cachuma and McKinley Ridge. The Los Padres National Forest expanded closure is in effect. The closure area is 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 http://www.inciweb.org/ or at your local Forest Service Office.

Current Situation: Last night the fire was less active due to the marine layer and continued to make occasional runs above the marine layer. The north and east flanks of the fire remain difficult to contain due to heavy fire activity and poor access. The west and southwest wind will help with control efforts along the western and southern flanks. Direct hand line and burning operations will continue in this area. The fire line at the head of Peachtree Canyon continues to hold. Engine crews, hand crews, and dozers will continue improving contingency lines and preparing for structure protection.

A Cal-Fire base camp has been established at the Earl Warren Show Grounds. It will be the base camp for the "Front Country Support Group" or personnel and equipment that are currently preplanning for the Santa Barbara front communities on the south coast. This group will support current fire fighting resources that would be providing structure protection if the fire should threaten the above areas.

Current Forest and Road 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 Order Area and is currently closed.

· Hwy 154 is closed to general traffic between Foothill Road and Hwy 246. Travelers driving on San Marcos Pass (Hwy 154) should tune to 1040 AM.

· Los Padres National Forest closure information and map are available at http://www.inciweb.org/.

Safety Message: Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel. Gibraltar Road, Painted Cave Road and East Camino Cielo residents are also asked to be cautious of firefighting equipment and personnel.

Unified Incident Commanders:
Bill Molumby Incident Command Team 2 and Mark Schmitt, Santa Barbara County Fire Dept

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	Bill Molumby/ Mark Schmit

Current Situation

Total Personnel	2,370
Size	71,300 acres
Percent Contained	68%
Estimated Containment Date	09/07/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Vegetation is oak/conifer woodland which contains a large amount of dead component. Live fuel moistures are below critical levels.
Fire Behavior	Active burning occurred in the North, South and East portions of the fire today. The fire spread today was primarily backing down slope will occasional uphill runs when topography and wind are in alignment.
Significant Events	An evacuation order remains in feffect for Peachtree. Paradise Road and Lower Santa Ynez River Road to Gibraltar Dam. This includes the Paradise Road Community, Santa Ynez Recreational Areas to Gibraltar Dam, Los Prietos Boys Camp andthe Rancho Oso Guest Ranch. Highway 154 remains closed between Foothill Road and Highway 246. The firing operation was continued on the South portion of the fire to help diredt the fire away from communities to the South of the fire.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Direct line construction continues wherever conditions allow. Indirect and contingency line construction is to continue on the South and East. Preparation and firing operations will continue where they can be done safely. The Eastern end of the fire will be attacked using aerial resources due to poor access and teh potential for extreme fire behavior. Holding action and mop-up will continue wherever possible. Structure protection will continue in all of the communities threatened by the fire.
Projected Movement	Winds are expected to be more westerly today, pushing the fire north and east. Within the next 24 hours, west winds may begin transitioning to the northwest driving fire spread.
Growth Potential	Extreme.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	With the current conditions and resources the fire is expected to be pushed to the North and East to protect the communities to the South.
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	5 (g14) mph W
Current Temperature	78 degrees
Current Humidity	28 %

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