CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : Inciweb: Ranch Fire Wildland Fire - 54,716 acres

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Inciweb: Ranch Fire Wildland Fire - 54,716 acres - 70%

Ranch Fire Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 37 MIN. AGO

ANNOUNCEMENT

Emergency Closure of Los Padres National Forest - October 23, 2007
6755 Hollister Ave. #150 - Goleta, CA 93117 - CONTACT: Joe Pasinato (805) 961-5745 - www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres - GOLETA, Calif.- In conjunction with the Cleveland, San Bernardino, and Angeles... more

High intensity burn in Hasley Canyon - October 24, 2007
Credit: Alexis West

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Summary

As a result of extreme fire activity the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests have implemented forest wide closures. Please call the Los Padres National Forest, 805-961-5770 or the Angeles National Forest, 626-821-6700 for additional information.

This afternoon crews were rappelled into the area around Little Sespe Creek in order to clear and prepare an area for a helispot. This helispot will be used tomorrow to insert hotshot crews into this area of the fire. Crews continued today to put out hotspots on the southern and eastern sides of the fire. Some interior smokes were visible. Containment lines near communities and isolated structures have been effective. Tonight crews will continue to mop up hot spots around the fire perimeter, and will build additional line as necessary. Structure protection will continue.

Structures at risk continues to be located in the Val Verde and Hasley Canyon areas, located at the south eastern edge of the fire perimeter. Crews have been successful in protecting these areas and no structures were burned. The fire has not crossed highway 126 nor has it progressed any closer to the communities of Piru and Fillmore.

All evacuations from the Ranch Fire within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties have been lifted. Residents are now allowed back into their neighborhoods but are urged to remain cautious and should keep informed about current conditions.

The Incident Command Post is located at Castaic Park. The fire is under the command of California Interagency Incident Management Team 3, Jeanne Pincha-Tulley commanding. The Ranch Fire started October 20^th at 9:42 pm near Townsand Peak, southwest of Templin Highway and Interstate 5, in the Angeles National Forest. The Ranch Fire has now involved 54,716 acres and is 70% contained. Firefighting resources currently on scene include 905 personnel with 60 fire Engines, 16 bulldozers, 20 water tenders, 24 Hand crews, 3 helitankers, and 6 helicopters.

This season's extreme fire behavior was made worse by widespread plant mortality which occurred in mid- and low-elevation finer fuels during the hard freeze that occurred last January. These low temperatures are common on the Angeles at higher elevations during the winter; however, this episode was significant at lower elevations due to its severity and duration. This vegetation mortality, when coupled with the historically low rainfall levels, has provided fuel and weather conditions in which these types of fires can be expected. Residents of these areas need to be aware of the great danger posed by fire and take active measures to protect themselves, their families, and their property. Information on measures that you can take in the face of these conditions can be found at http://www.firewise.org/ on the world-wide web.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Date of Origin	10/20/2007 at 2142 hrs.
Location	6 miles north of Castaic CA
Incident Commander	Jeanne Pincha - Tulley

Current Situation

Total Personnel	905
Size	54,716 acres
Percent Contained	70%
Estimated Containment Date	10/31/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	The fire is burning in heavy chaparral and oak woodland.
Fire Behavior	Fire activity was minimal today, although some flames were visible from Interstate 5. Light winds and extremely dry fuels resulted in some fire running up slopes. The northern flank of the fire is burning into the previously burned area of the Day Fire.
Significant Events	Considerable progress was made today on the western flank of the fire by hand crews. Evacuations were lifted in all areas affected by the fire and all roads were opened.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Tomorrow hotshot crews will be inserted into the fire near Little Sespe Creek. Firefighters will continue to build and improve containment line on the all fronts of the fire. Structure protection will continue in the communities of Hasley, Piru, Sespe and Fillmore, as well as along Highway 126.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	The prospects for containment of the fire in the near term are very promising. Resources are being released for use on other fires in the region.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	Not available
Current Temperature	Not available
Current Humidity	Not available

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Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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