Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 222,557 acres - 79 percent

Zaca Wildland Fire
2nd largest fire in California History

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INCIDENT UPDATED 21 MIN. AGO

Keeping the residents of Montecito informed about the Zaca Fire's status.
Credit: Curtis Vincent - Montecito Fire Dept.

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Summary

ZACA FIRE UPDATE

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 7:30 pm

U.S. Forest Service Command

www.sbcfire.com

www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres

Zaca Fire Information Line: (805) 961-5770

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 222,557 acres

Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 1,694 acres

Fireline to Build: 2 miles

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

Percent Contained: 79 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 39

Structures Threatened: 581

Structured Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Resources

Crews: 73

Engines: 118

Helicopters: 18

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 42

Water Tenders: 79

Total Personnel Assigned: 3,090

Cost to Date: $ 90.2 million

EVENING UPDATE IN PROGRESS.....PLEASE STANDBY

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	3,090
Size	222,557 acres
Percent Contained	79%
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 Zone: The Fire is holding at the Monte Arido Fuel Break and the Pendola Jeepway. Smoldering and creeping occurred within the Caliente drainage with little active fire spread. Unburned islands continue to burnout in Santa Cruz drainage. Richardson Zone: Weather conditions combined exceptionally dry, heavy fuels in alignment with wind and slope produced intense fire behavior including; spotting, solid runs to ridge tops, and flare ups in hot spots.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone: Fire line completed in division ZZ and YY. Existing fire line held. Contingency work completed. Richardson Zone: Continue firing in DIV EE West from DP 104 and in DIV FF East to Hwy 33 and from Ozena north towards Brubaker Rd. Hold and monitor Divisions CC, DD and HH. Aggressive fixed wing suppression operations on Northwest fire spread in DIV AA/BB. A precautionary Evacuation continues West of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn and is being coordinated by Ventura County Sheriffs, assisted by Santa Barbara Sheriffs. Hwy 33 remains closed.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Patrol and mop-up. Continue Fire Suppression Rehab. Richardson Zone: Hold and Mop up burnout operations in Division BB, EE and FF. Continue with firing and holding operations in DIV BB and FF as conditions allow. Road closure for Hwy 33. Continue to prepare strategy for long-term control lines in Branch XXIII. Ventura Zone: Reevaluation of contingency operations
Projected Movement	Live Oak Zone: The fire is expected to have little active fire spread in all areas except unburned islands. Small pockets of heat expected to continue smoldering within the upper Caliente drainage. Active fire spread in the unburned islands in Santa Cruz drainage. Richardson Zone: West and North down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. North to Dry Canyon, East to Hwy 33.
Growth Potential	Extreme.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	Live Oak Zone: The direct and indirect Strategy should succeed by 8/23/07. Richardson Zone: High on ability to anchor and hold on Sierra Madre Ridge toward Hwy 33 and moderate from Pine Mtn. summit toward Ozena. Poor on West perimeter.
Remarks	Live Oak Zone: Transferring out of unified command as the threat to Santa Barbara County has been mitigated. The fire has not progressed on the county jurisdiction and will be managed by the USFS. Richardson Zone: A Precautionary Evacuation Order is in place for the area west of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn. Road Closure in effect on Hwy 33; Closed to all traffic from Pine Mountain Summit to Ozena. All other areas are open to residents.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	4 mph SW
Current Temperature	96 degrees
Current Humidity	14 %