CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres

Monday, August 27, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 90 percent

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 10 HRS. AGO

Helicopter assisting with firing operation.
Credit: Casey Christie - The Bakersfield Californian

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Summary

Sunday, August 26, 2007 8:00 PM

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 240,207 acres

Fireline to Build: 4 miles

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

Percent Contained: 90 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 42

Structures Threatened: 66

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Cost to date: $104 million dollars

Resources

Crews: 36

Engines: 92

Helicopters: 20

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 20

Water Tenders: 71

Personnel Assigned: 1,914

Headlines

·· Highway 33 is open from Wheeler Gorge to Lockwood Valley Road. Highway 33 between Lockwood Valley Road and Quatal Canyon Road is open to residents only, until further notice.

·· A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION remains in effect for the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33.

Current Situation

Last night firefighters continued line construction on yesterday's spot fire near Cuyama Peak and the northeast corner of the fire, west of Highway 33. Today, firefighters will focus in this same area utilizing both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Handcrews will conduct burn out and mop-up operations along the east portion of the fire near Ozena. Fireline in the northwest area in the Sisquoc River drainage has been completed. Rehabilitation of firelines has begun on the east side of the Richardson Zone of the fire. Structure protection remains in place along Highway 33.

Crews continue to make progress with rehabilitation efforts along firelines and roads in the Live Oak Zone. In addition to rehabilitation work the Live Oak Zone will be monitored by air. Additional crews have been shifted to the Richardson Zone to assist with firefighting efforts there.

Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south have been lifted. All areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry; including the Snyder Trail, a popular mountain bike trail.

State Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures

·· Highway 33 is open from Wheeler Gorge to Lockwood Valley Road. Highway 33 between Lockwood Valley Road and Quatal Canyon Road is open to residents only, until further notice.

Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary.
East Camino Cielo Road is now open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is still closed east of Gibraltar Road because it is within the Forest closure.
Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to First Crossing Day Use Area.
The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. The closure includes lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern Counties. The expanded closure 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 www.inciweb.org or at a Los Padres National Forest office.

Evacuations

·· A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION remains in effect for the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33. A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION is issued when fire has advanced or is in a position relative to a particular area and poses imminent danger to life and property (i.e., time to leave).

Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are now open. The Santa Ynez River Road, beyond the First Crossing and all associated recreation facilities are closed.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Human Caused
Date of Origin	07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
Location	9 miles north of Santa Barbara
Incident Commander	Opliger/ Hawkins

Current Situation

Total Personnel	1,914
Size	240,207 acres
Percent Contained	90%
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 in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage still has some movement. Richardson Zone: There was minimum fire behavior throughout the day.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone: Progress is being made with fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Continued direct fire line construction on spot fire activity north west of Hwy 33. Continue structure protection patrols on the north east.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Continuing patroling from the air, and fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Monitoring and moping up all slopovers. Patroling and moping up all spot fires, as well as moping up 1000 feet from structures. Rehabilitation is now underway in the Richardson Zone.
Projected Movement	Richardson Zone: West and North down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. North to Dry Canyon, East to Hwy 33.
Growth Potential	Medium.
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme.
Containment Target	Live Oak Zone: Fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: High potential for success of management strategy by Sept. 4th.
Remarks	Richardson Zone: 90% containment, Decrease in acres by 1343 acres, due to more accurate mapping. The road closure from Ozena to Ventucopa was lifted today. Two injuries reported today, One Patient, serious injury due to fall, patient stabilized and medivaced to Santa Barbara.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	10(g22) mph SW
Current Temperature	87 degrees
Current Humidity	20 %

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