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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 116,714 acres - 67 percent

Zaca Wildland FireZaca Wildland Fire

Zaca Fire Information Map For August 15

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INCIDENT UPDATED 12 HRS. AGO

NEWS RELEASE

Forest Service Closes Additional Areas in Los Padres National Forest
Date: August 14, 2007 Los Padres National Forest ... more

This map shows the lands that are closed to entry for the public.

Credit: LP GLIS

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Summary

Evening Update August 15, 2007

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 116,714 acres

Acreage Increase (last 24 hours): 12,994 acres

Fireline to Build: 16 miles

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

Percent Contained: 67 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 29

Structures Threatened: 595

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Resources

Crews: 70

Engines: 123

Helicopters: 28

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 32

Water Tenders: 71

Total Personnel Assigned: 2,890

Cost to Date: $73.4 million

Current Situation:

Progress was made today building fireline through the 1997 Ogilvy burn area. The fire crossed the Mono Creek above the Ogilvy Ranch. Efforts are now focused on completing direct fireline from the Ogilvy Ranch area to the Hildreth Jeepway and to then to conduct firing from the Jeepway heading east toward Highway 33. Current strategies of direct attack will continue while fire managers review contingency plans and adjust suppression tactics as needed.

On the northern perimeter, firefighters continued a backfiring operation to burnout out vegetation between the fireline and the main fire which is actively burning in Sisquoc Cliff and Logan Canyons. Firefighters were successful in securing four miles of fireline along the Sierra Madre Ridge. The backfiring operation will continue tomorrow towards Highway 33. On the east perimeter, the fire continues to actively burn in the area known as the Narrows in Mono Canyon and is moving east towards the Matilija Wilderness. The active fire is still burning within the indirect fire lines that the incident commanders have established to contain this fire.

Hwy 33 between Ojai and Cumaya may be impacted while firefighters conduct a firing operation to secure the fireline on the eastern perimeter of the fire. Incident Commanders are working with the California Highway Patrol in conjunction with Santa Barbara and Ventura County Sheriff Offices to develop a plan for traffic flow.

Contingency lines in the areas of Paradise Road, Camuesa Road, the Sierra Madre Ridge, Pendola Road, and the Matilija Wilderness are completed. These lines may reduce the need for firing operations in those areas 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 Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest has been expanded to include additional lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties. The expanded closure now 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 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.

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	2,890
Size	116,714 acres
Percent Contained	67%
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	South side of the fire: The fire actively backed down into the north side of Mono Creek drainage and the upper end of Alamar Canyon, with occasional uphill runs. North side of the fire: Moderate fire behavior with wind-driven short range runs.
Significant Events	On the northern perimeter, firefighters continued a backfiring operation to burnout out vegetation between the fireline and the main fire which is actively burning in Sisquoc Cliff and Logan Canyons. Firefighters were successful in securing four miles of fireline along the Sierra Madre Ridge. The backfiring operation will continue tomorrow towards Highway 33. On the east perimeter, the fire continues to actively burn in the area known as the Narrows in Mono Canyon and is moving east towards the Matilija Wilderness. The active fire is still burning within the indirect fire lines that the incident commanders have established to contain this fire.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Hwy 33 between Ojai and Cumaya may be impacted while firefighters conduct a firing operation to secure the fireline on the eastern perimeter of the fire. Incident Commanders are working with the California Highway Patrol in conjunction with Santa Barbara and Ventura County Sheriff Offices to develop a plan for traffic flow. Contingency lines in the areas of Paradise Road, Camuesa Road, the Sierra Madre Ridge, Pendola Road, and the Matilija Wilderness are completed. These lines may reduce the need for firing operations in those areas and will provide firefighters with other suppression options that may be needed in the event that changing conditions warrant such action.
Projected Movement	South side of the fire: Continued active spread to the east up Mono Canyon. Richardson Zone: Fire moved northward past the Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge, Santa Barbara Canyon and Cuyuama Peak; south to Don Victor Valley Creek/Mono Creek.
Growth Potential	Extreme.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	South side of the fire: The selected strategy has been moderately successful in keeping the fire moving to the north and east. The fire is on the south side of teh Don Victor Jeepway necessitating a rediretionof resources to the Hildreth Jeepway. Although additional acreage was lost, the strategic plan is still valid. North side of the fire: High based on the ability to anchor and hold fire on the Sierra Madre Ridge toward Highway 33.
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	7 (g17) mph W
Current Temperature	93 degrees
Current Humidity	18 %

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