CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 241,550 acres

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 241,550 acres - 85%

Zaca Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 23 MIN. AGO

Airtanker making a retardant drop
Credit: Casey Christie - The Bakersfield Californian

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Summary

Sunday, August 26, 2007 8:30 AM

Fire Status

Acres Burned: 241,550 acres

Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 2082 acres

Fireline to Build: 5.6 miles

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

Percent Contained: 85 percent

Expected Containment: September 7, 2007

Injuries: 40

Structures Threatened: 66

Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding

Cost to date: $102.6 million dollars

Resources

Crews: 54

Engines: 92

Helicopters: 17

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 3

Dozers: 23

Water Tenders: 74

Personnel Assigned: 2,414

Headlines

·· Highway 33 is now open south of Lockwood Valley Road to Wheeler Gorge. Highway 33 from Quatal Canyon Road south to Lockwood Valley Road is open to residents only.

·· 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

This afternoon a spot fire started outside of the fire's northeastern perimeter and spread upslope to Cuyama Peak. Crews stopped the fire's spread at 30 acres and will work overnight to contain it.

An aggressive use of air tankers and helicopters prevented further spread of yesterday's spot fire in Brubaker Canyon west of Highway 33. Fireline around this fire is expected to be completed overnight. Crews mopped up multiple spot fires that burned yesterday near the confluence of Santa Barbara and Dry Canyons. The fire on the northwest perimeter in the Sisquoc River drainage is nearing containment.

Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south have been lifted, however, be aware that all areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry.

State Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures

Highway 33 is now open south of Lockwood Valley Road to Wheeler Gorge. Highway 33 from Quatal Canyon Road south to Lockwood Valley Road is open to residents only.
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	2,414
Size	241,555 acres
Percent Contained	85%
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: Unburned fuel in the Santa Cruz drainage continued to slowly burn back down slope. Richardson Zone: Active fire behavior on Eastern flank with spotting and runs up south facing slopes. Wind and slope influenced fire behavior. Flare-up of interior hot spots. Minimal fire behavior in other areas.
Significant Events	Live Oak Zone: Progress is being made in the Suppression Rehab Branchof the fire. Richardson Zone: Direct fireline was constructed with the support of both Air Tankers and Helicopters supporting suppression operations on spotfire activity to the north west of Hwy 33. Direct fireline construction from the previous days spotting activity. Patrol and mop up along Sierra Madre Ridge. Maintain structure protection operations on the west side of Hwy 33. A recommended evacuation for an area west of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn, is still in effect, and is being coordinated by Ventura County Sheriffs, assisted by Santa Barbara Sheriffs. Road closure for Hwy 33.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Live Oak Zone: Patrol and mop-up. Continue Fire Suppression Rehab. Richardson Zone: Direct fireline construction, monitor and mop up on spotfire activity north west of Hwy 33. Monitor and mop up along Sierra Madre Ridge. Continue structure protection operations on the west side of Hwy 33. Road closure for Hwy 33.
Projected Movement	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: Fire Management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: High on ability to anchor and hold on Sierra Madre Ridge toward Hwy 33 and moderate from Pine Mtn. summit toward Ozena. Moderate on West perimeter.
Remarks	Richardson Zone: A recommended evacuation order remains 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.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	6(g16) mph SE
Current Temperature	86 degrees
Current Humidity	20 %

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