Zaca Fire News ... more
Zaca Fire Perimeter, August 20, 2007 (Active fire is red)
Credit: Zaca Fire Geographic Information
Summary
ZACA FIRE UPDATE Sunday, August 19, 2007 8:00 PM Joint Unified Command: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Department On the Web: http://www.sbcfire.com/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ Fire Information Phone Line: (805) 961-5770 Fire Status Acres Burned: 199,588 acres /214,725 ( Editor:Inciweb reporting two figures 214,725 ) Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 11,553 acres Fireline to Build: 3 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 75 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 30 Structures Threatened: 581 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding
Resources
Crews: 71
Engines: 117
Helicopters: 22
Air Tankers: 8
Air Attack: 3
Dozers: 41
Water Tenders: 81
Total Personnel Assigned: 3,035
Cost to Date: $ 83.2 million
Headlines:
- Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa is closed to all traffic, including residents.
Current Situation:
On the northwest perimeter, the fire is well established in Sweetwater and Foresters Leap Canyons on the north rim of Sisquoc Canyon. Incident Commanders are developing contingency plans for a backfire operation along the Cottonwood Road on Sierra Madre Ridge. On the northeast perimeter, the fire continues to be active in the Dick Smith Wilderness, one mile west of Highway 33. Firefighters are conducting a backfire operation from Cuyama Peak Road in Dry Canyon towards Highway 33.
On the southeast perimeter, firefighters stopped firing operations along the Pendola Jeepway and in the Ogilvy Ranch area late this morning due to unfavorable wind changes. Firing operations will resume tomorrow as weather conditions permit to secure the remaining perimeter of the southeastern portion of the fire. Contingency lines have been connected and crews are now focusing their efforts on improving these lines. Natural resource specialists will begin to focus on the rehabilitation process in those areas affected by the fire suppression activities. There is a potential for a red flag alert tomorrow morning in the Santa Barbara area.
Forest, Road and Area Closures:
- Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa will be closed to all traffic, including residents.
- 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 the Forest Service,
Evacuations:
- A PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit.
- The EVACUATION ORDER for Paradise Road residents, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch has been downgraded to an EVACUATION WARNING.
- An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake.
- 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 | Oplinger/ Childers/ Dietr |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 3,053 |
|---|---|
| Size | 214,725 acres |
| Percent Contained | 75% |
| 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 | Live Oak - South and Southeast side of fire: Active backing fire occurred, but the fire is holding along the Monte Arido fuel break and the Pendola Jeepway. Richardson Zone - north and northeast side of the fire: Stronger winds, higher temperatures, lower relative humidity and reduced shade on the fuels combined to increase intensities of upslope and up-canyon runs where the slope aligned with the wind. |
| Significant Events | Live Oak - south and southeast side of fire: The Paradise Road and Santa Ynez River Recreation Area remain under an evacuation warning, open to residents only. Existing fire line held. Unfavorable winds caused discontinuation of backfiring. Richardson Zone - northeast and north side of fire: Fire is continuing to spread east and northwest. A precautionary evacuation is in progress and is being coordinated by Ventura County Sheriffs. Hwy 33 remains closed. Backfiring began along Hwy 33 toward Ozena. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Live Oak - South and Southeast side of fire: Patrol, mop-up, and improve existing control lines. Conduct burnout and holding operations along the Hildreth Jeepway and Pendola Jeepway when conditions permit. Perform recon, planning and contingency line construction in the Live Oak Contingency Branch and the Santa Barbara front country from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas. Richardson Zone - northeast and north side of fire: Continue burnout operations in the northeast. Continue burnout from Pine Mt. summit to Ozena. Develop strategy for the new Branch 23. Maintain Hwy 33 road closure and precautionary evacuations. |
|---|---|
| Projected Movement | Live Oak - South and Southeast side of fire: Continued active spread to the east up Diablo Canyon. Backing South in Agua Caliente Canyon. Richardson Zone - north and northeast side of fire: increase west and north down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. Increase north and east toward Hwy 33. |
| Growth Potential | Extreme. |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme. |
| Remarks | Live Oak Zone: The fire is well-established in Mono Creek, Agua Caliente Canyons, and Diablo Canyon. Burning operations are being implemented along the contingency lines while winds are favorable. Firefighters continue to backfire on the Hildreth Jeepway southward while winds are favorable. A Fire Weather Watch and the possibility of a Red Flag Warning signal that fire activity could increase significantly. |
Weather
| Current Wind Conditions | 5 mph NE |
|---|---|
| Current Temperature | 62 degrees |
| Current Humidity | 26 % |
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