Summary
Zaca Fire
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 6:30 am
U.S. Forest Service Command
Zaca Fire Information Line: (805) 961-5770
Fire Status
Acres Burned: 222,907 acres
Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 1,694 acres
Fireline to Build: 8.8 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: 20
Air Tankers: 8
Air Attack: 3
Dozers: 42
Water Tenders: 79
Total Personnel Assigned: 3,090
Cost to Date: $ 90.2 million
Headlines
- Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa will remain closed until Friday due to firefighting equipment and heavy smoke. Residents will be allowed to enter but must carry identification to access areas within the road closure.
·· Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to the Upper Oso Campground. Gibraltar Road remains closed.
Current Situation
On the northwest perimeter, the fire is well established in Foresters Leap Canyon on the north rim of Sisquoc Canyon. Today, firefighters continued a backfiring operation along the Sierra Madre Ridge to contain the northern progress of the fire. Air tankers dropped retardant in the area to slow the progress of the fire. Contingency plans are being developed to determine a course of action to stop the progress of the fire northwest down the Sisquoc drainage. On the northeast and east perimeter, the fire has moved to the boundary of the Dick Smith Wilderness near Highway 33. Firefighters continued a backfire operation from Cuyama Peak Road in Dry Canyon down Brubaker Canyon to Highway 33. On the east perimeter, firefighters have successfully completed the backfire operation from Highway 33 through the switchbacks to Ozena and continue to monitor the area for spot fires.
On the southeast perimeter, hand crews constructed fireline directly next to the fire's edge northeast of Agua Caliente Springs. Good progress was made on this line and as a result, the Live Oak Zone of the Zaca Fire is now approximately 97% contained. Focus is now shifting to patrol and mop up, and rehabilitation of firelines, contingency lines and roads.
Forest, Road and Area Closures
·· Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa will be closed to all traffic until Friday, except for 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 open from Highway 154 to the Upper Oso Campground. Gibraltar Road remains closed.
- 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 is in effect 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 | 3,090 |
|---|---|
| Size | 222,907 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 | 6 (g12) mph NE |
|---|---|
| Current Temperature | 66 degrees |
| Current Humidity | 46 % |
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