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

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 95 percent

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 16 MIN. AGO

NEWS RELEASE

Health Advisory Due to Smoke Changed to Precautionary
Santa Barbara, CA - The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) today downgraded the health advisory for people living in... more

Summary

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 8:00 AM

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 240,207 acres

Fireline to Build: 2 miles

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

Percent Contained: 95 percent

Expected Containment: September 4, 2007

Injuries: 43

Structures Threatened: 32

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Cost to date: $109.5 million dollars

Resources

Crews: 52

Engines: 86

Helicopters: 22

Air Tankers: 0

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 20

Water Tenders: 69

Personnel Assigned: 2,208

Headlines

Due to successful firefighting efforts on the northeastern edge of the Zaca Fire, Highway 33 is open to the public. Please be mindful that there is the potential for fire engine traffic along this route for the next few days. Travel with caution.
Some areas within Los Padres National Forest east of Highway 33 previously closed to public entry will be reopened on August 30. The revised emergency closure will encompass all national forest lands between Highway 166 and Highway 33. On the east side of Highway 33, the Pine Mountain Road (AKA Reyes Peak Road and Forest Road 6N06), and all recreation facilities along the road will remain closed, as will the Boulder Canyon Trail (Forest Trail 23W03) between Pine Mountain Road and the Forest Service Station at Ozena.

Current Situation

Yesterday crews continued improving containment lines on the fire in the Cuyama Peak and Brubaker Canyon areas. Last night crews used night-vision goggles to locate hot spots. Today, firefighters will search out and suppress hot spots along the fire's edge that may threaten the containment lines all along the north and east portions of the Zaca fire. Aerial infrared photography and ground patrols will be used to identify and cool hot spots, primarily along completed fireline in the Sisquoc River drainage and the northern perimeter of the fire.

Suppression rehabilitation efforts continue to make substantial progress along fire lines and roads in the Live Oak Zone of the Zaca Fire. Crews will continue rehabilitation on the Fremont fuel break near East Camino Cielo Road, which will be visible from Highway 154.

Temperatures today are forecasted to be in the 100's with winds from the west-southwest during the morning hours then turning northeast in the evening. Relative humidity levels are expected to be in the low teens.

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.

Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures

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 open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is 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.
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	2,208
Size	240,207 acres
Percent Contained	95%
Estimated Containment Date	09/04/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifers at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels.
Fire Behavior	Live Oak Zone (south section): The fire in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage continues to creep around. Richardson Zone (north section): Some interior burning within the control lines was observed today.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone (south section): Progress is being made in suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone (north section): Good progress with line improvements and mop up in all divisions. Fire suppression rehab efforts continue in all divisions today.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Patrol by air. Continue fire suppression rehab. Richardson Zone: Monitor and mop up/patrol in all divisions. Contingency planning will continue. Continue rehab efforts.
Projected Movement	Projected incident movement in Richardson Zone: north to Dry Canyon and east to Highway 33.
Growth Potential	Moderate
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Containment Target	Live Oak Zone: the fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: There is high potential for success of the fire management strategy by Sept. 4th.
Remarks	Live Oak Zone: Southern California Team 1 (Walker),will assume command today at 0600.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	Not available
Current Temperature	59 degrees
Current Humidity	47 %

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