Zaca Fire
If you need more information please call the Zaca Fire Information Line (linea de informacion) at 805-961-5770 for current conditions.
Updated 08/21/07 10:00 a.m.
The Zaca Fire has moved east towards Highway 33 and has become established in the Dick Smith Wilderness. This has prompted the Ventura County Sheriff to issue a Precautionary Evacuation for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit that began on Saturday, August 18th at 6:00 pm.
more photos...
Warnings and Orders
The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department and fire authorities have issued an “EVACUATION WARNING” for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake effective August 17, 2007 8:00pm.
Residents of these areas should consider what they need to take and be prepared to leave upon notice of the Sheriff’s Department, as they may not be able to come back to retrieve personal items due to potentially rapidly changing fire conditions. This “EVACUATION WARNING” is to alert community members in the area of a potential threat to life and property. An evacuation order may follow as a result of the threat. Please monitor your local public safety warning systems and local radio and television news as conditions could rapidly change.
Although Hwy 154 is reopened, the public is encouraged to continue to take US 101 and stay off Hwy 154 unless absolutely necessary Please. For those who do use Hwy 154, delays can be expected due to the reduced speed limit and the continuous movement of slow-moving firefighting vehicles. Visibility may be reduced as a result of smoke.
A EVACUATION WARNING remains in effect for residents of the Paradise Road community, Los Prietos Boys Camp, Paradise Store and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch, effective Sunday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. The Lower Santa Ynez River Recreation Area campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads will remain closed.
SMOKE AND ASH MAY BE VISIBLE OVER A WIDE AREA. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District have issued a health advisory. People who are at risk, including children and the elderly who are more susceptible to smoke may need to take precautions.
agressive suppression ...
On the northwest perimeter, the fire is well established in Foresters Leap Canyon on the north rim of Sisquoc Canyon. Firefighters are planning a backfiring operation along the Sierra Madre Ridge to contain the northern progress of the fire. Contingency plans are being developed to determine a course of action to stop the progress of the fire west down the Sisquoc drainage.
On the northeast and east perimeter, the fire has moved up to the east boundary of the Dick Smith Wilderness near Highway 33. Firefighters will continue a backfire operation from Cuyama Peak Road in Dry Canyon down Brubaker Canyon towards Highway 33.
On the east perimeter, firefighters have successfully completed the backfire operation from Highway 33 through the switchbacks to Ozena. Later this afternoon a backfire operation will be conducted along the forest boundary at the Cuyama River drainage from Ozena to Brubaker Road in order to contain the eastern edge of the fire.
On the southeast perimeter, firefighters were successful in constructing fireline directly next to the fire’s edge east of the Hildreth Jeep trail and north of the Pendola Jeep Trail.
Rehabilitation of firelines, contingency lines, and roads will begins today. Approximately 300 miles of dozerline are in need of restoration.
Secondary dozer lines were constructed below the direct handline in support of obtaining containment. Some burning occurred in the interior section of the southwestern area of the fire. Due to predicted low humidity, a red flag warning has been issued for the fire area until Wednesday night.
Daytime temperatures remained in the 90's yesterday and with extremely low relative humidity caused a Red Flag Warning to be put in place. These weather conditions are hindering burning operations. In the Live Oak Zone* Monday the existing fire line held even though unfavorable winds caused discontinuation of back firing operations. Firefighters are continuing to hold the line at the Monte Arido Fuel Break and the Pendola Jeepway. The fire was smoldering and creeping within the Caliente drainage with little active fire spread yesterday and fortunately is expected to progress very little. Unburned islands of fuel continue to burnout in several of the drainages.
In the Richardson Zone on Monday strong winds, high temperatures, and extremely low humidity, in combination with exceptionally dry, heavy fuels in alignment with the winds and slopes again produced intense fire behavior. Aggressive suppression action with air tankers, helicopters and ground forces is ongoing along Hwy 33. Fire fighters have completed their backfiring operations from the Pine Mountain Summit North to Ozena.
On the northeast perimeter, the fire has actively burned within the Dick Smith Wilderness and is now less than a mile from the eastern boundary of the wilderness. Yesterday evening firefighters continued backfiring from the Cuyama Lookout Road towards Highway 33 along Dry Canyon.
On the southeast perimeter, firefighters suspended backfire operations yesterday near Potrero Seco Ranch and Pine Mountain Summit because of spot fires that went over the established dozer lines. All spot fires have been contained except for one. Tonight, firefighters will continue backfiring from Pine Mountain Summit to Ozena.
There has been increasing fire activity in the northwest as the fire continues to push in that direction.
On the northwest perimeter, the fire is well established in Sweetwater and Foresters Leap Canyons on the north rim of Sisquoc Canyon and Incident Command is planning a backfire operation along the Cottonwood Road on Sierra Madre Ridge. Contingency lines have been connected and crews are now focusing their efforts on improving these lines even while rehabilitaion efforts are under way.
Today in the Live Oak Zone* to the south, firefighters continued to patrol, mop-up, and improve the existing control lines in several areas, including the Santa Barbara front country from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas. They are also constructing a direct handline and dozerline along the Hildreth Jeepway and Pendola Jeepway into Agua Caliente Canyon when conditions permit it. Firefighting conditions were very dangerous yesterday in several areas.
In the Richardson Zone* the fire is still trying to push itself to the east and northwest. Firing operations have kept the fire north of the Ogilvy Ranch road.
In the Ventura Zone* firefighters are gaining access through private lands as they prepare contingency lines and will continue to improve the existing fuel breaks, safety zones and interconnect the existing fuel breaks as needed.
Good progress is being made in the effort to secure the fireline around the remaining northeastern and southeastern fire perimeters.
A good secure fireline is in place from Potrero Seco Ranch to Hildreth Jeep trail on the westside of the Matilija Wilderness. Warmer and drier weather forecasted through this evening will challenge fire fighting efforts to complete the firelines.
Inaccessibility is still requiring crews and equipment to be shuttled in by helicopter and the heavy smoke has not only hampered the ground attack on the fire but it has impeded air operations as well. Firefighting resources staged at the Ventura County Fairgrounds are creating and reopening fuelbreaks, clearing roads, providing structure protection and are in reserve should they be needed for initial attack for Ventura County and the Los Padres National Forest.
Containment is estimated at 77%.
The size of the fire is now 220,863 acres. It has been estimated that the fire will consume 236,000 acres before it is through. The last estimated cost was at 87.5 million dollars. Over 3,144 personnel are currently working on this fire.
*Incident Command has now divided the fire into 3 closely coordinated zones. The northern portion will be the Richardson Zone" and the southern portion will be the "Live Oak Zone" and the Ventura Zone to the east.
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 the area but must carry identification to access areas within the road closure.
The closure is required to safely conduct a backfire operation planned along Highway 33 from the Pine Mountain Road to Ozena. Travelers on Hwy 33 will continue be impacted while firefighters conduct firing and supression operations and to secure the firelines on the eastern perimeter of the fire.
All or portions of Highway 33 between Ojai and Cuyama may close at any time due to changing fire and weather conditions. When conditions warrant, the Highway will be closed by authorities until it can safely be reopened to thru traffic. Closures may change at any time.
Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres NF boundary.
Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres NF boundary.
East Camino Cielo is closed between Painted Cave Road and Gibraltar Road due to fire equipment traffic.
Paradise Road is within the Evacuation Warning Area and is currently open to residents only.
Additional areas in Los Padres National Forest are now closed due to the Zaca Fire emergency. This is due to the difficulty of evacuating forest visitors from remote areas should the fire spread and concerns for the firefighters while they build contingency lines several miles from the active fire. The closure now affects approximately 888,000 acres.
Zaca Fire...Additional Information
If you need more information please call the Zaca Fire Information Line at 805-961-5770 for current conditions.
Para más información sobre el Zaca Fire llame al (805) 961-5770 o puede
visitar http://www.inciweb.org/ o http://www.countyofsb.org/
También puede escuchar noticias por radio...
KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7; KRAZ-105.9 y KIST-107.7
Vulnerable Populations:
individuals with special needs who may be unable to evacuate without help and those who need medical equipment that require electricity.
please call (805) 968-0462 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The Red Cross shelter:
Red Cross personnel continue to be available by phone 24/7 at: 805-896-2980.
Animal/Pet Shelter Locations please call the...
Animal Hotline 805-681-4332.
Information kiosk locations have been established which will provide current Zaca Fire press releases, updates, maps and other relevant information. The following locations will be updated with key information daily:
Santa Barbara:
The Mission (2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara)
City Hall (735 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara)
Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu
Franklin Center, 1136 E. Montecito
Westside Center, 423 W. Victoria
Lazy Acres Market (302 Meigs Road, Santa Barbara
Goleta:
City Hall (130 Cremona Dr. Suite B)
Camino Real Market Place Theatre (7040 Marketplace Dr.)
Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Ave.)
Santa Barbara County:
Tucker’s Grove Park – Entrance (Turnpike Rd. and Cathedral Oaks Rd.)
Magnolia Center - 5130 Hollister Ave.
Turnpike Center @ Hollister Road (163 S. Turnpike, Goleta)
Calle Real Center by Trader Joes (5767 Calle Real, Goleta)
Java Station on Hollister @ Modoc (4447 Hollister Ave.)
County Administration Building (105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara)
Carpinteria/Summerland/Montecito:
Montecito South Village at East Valley and San Ysidro Roads
Cold Springs School, 2243 Sycamore Canyon
Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue
Summerland Post Office (corner of Lillie and Evans Avenues)
Additional information can also be found on the web at ...
Inciweb Incident Information System website at:
http://inciweb.org/incident/770/
Inciweb also provides maps, photos and a RSS feed providing news and announcements on the fire.
Los Padres National Forest website at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/
County of Santa Barbara Online at:
http://www.countyofsb.org/
Broadcast Information
Radio Stations:
AM Stations: KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KUHL-1410 and KINF-1440.
FM Stations: KCSB-91.9; KSPE-94.5
(Spanish); KSYV-96.7; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7; KRAZ-105.9 and KIST-107.7.
TV:
Santa Barbara County's Channel 20
City of Santa Barbara, Channel 18
City of Goleta at Channel 19
For those who may have been unable to attend the community meetings you can view the videos at:
http://www.countyofsb.org/index.asp
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Thank You
We would like to thank all of the individuals and businesses who have espressed their desire to show their appreciation of the Firefighters who are working so hard on this difficult fire. The Wildland Firefighters Association supports Firefighters and their families and strives to take care of the fallen and injured. Visit their website at http://www.wffoundation.org/ or call 208-336 2996 for more details
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