Inciweb: Ranch Fire Wildland Fire

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Inciweb: Ranch Fire Wildland Fire

Ranch Fire Wildland Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 21 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

Ranch Fire perimeter map - October 24, 2007 morning
Credit: California Interagency Incident Management Team 3

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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.

A Red Flag warning remains in effect through 4pm due to gusty northwest winds and relative low humidity. High wind warnings are in effect until 3 pm today.Strong northeast winds and low relative humidity will continue to create conditions for extreme fire behavior. Fire is expected to spread at a rapid rate with long range spotting.

Last night fire crews and structural protection engine crews reported that the night operations went extremely well with no suprises. In the early evening, the winds were less than previous nights and increased slightly after midnight. By 2am, the winds over the fire calmed considerably and in some places stopped completely. The fire did not expand significantly to the south or east. Containment lines near communities and isolated structures were working as designed and constructed. Most of the activity focused on strategically placing structural protection resources near buildings directly threatened by the fire. Crews continued to mop-up, or extinguish all burning material near fire containment lines to further secure and prevent the fire from crossing the fire line. The highest concentration of structures at risk are located in the Val Verde and Hasley Canyon areas, located at the south eastern edge of the fire perimeter. Crews were successful in protecting these areas and no structures were burned. The fire did not cross highway 126 or progress 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.

For additional information on evacuations, school and road closures and a Health Advisory, contact the Ventura County Sheriffs Department at 805-654-3593 and the Ventura County Fire Department at http://www.fire.countyofventura.org/.

The incident command post is located at Castaic Park. The evacuation center is located at Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building located at 511 Second St. Ventura, 805-524-1500. Large animal evacuations can go to the Ventura fairgrounds, 866-387-8911. Small animal evacuations are going to the Camarillo Animal Shelter, 805-388-4341 ext. 9.

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. Ranch Fire has now involved 51,337 acres and is 45% contained.

Firefighting resources on scene include 1264 personnel with 145 Fire Engines, 12 dozers, 23 water tenders, 24 Hand crews, 3 Helitankers, 4 Helicopters.

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	1,264
Size	51,337 acres
Percent Contained	45%
Estimated Containment Date	10/31/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Heavy brush, grass, oak woodland
Fire Behavior	Fire activity was minimal with some flames visible from Interstate 5.
Significant Events	A small flare up occurred on the northeast perimeter last night, but otherwise no significant spread was observed. Crews continued mop up and patrol on the eastern and southern flanks.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Crews to complete line construction on the south side of the fire. They will also improve existing line on the north side near Whitaker Peak. Other crews will patrol and mop up 100 feet in on the west side. Structure protection will be provided in the communities of Hasley, Piru, Sespe and Fillmore, as well as along Highway 126.
Growth Potential	Extreme
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	As of October 23 at 4pm, acreage breakdown is Angeles National Forest 10769 acres, Los Padres National Forest 12384 acres, Bureau of Land Management 396 acres, Fish and Wildlife Service 1788 acres, and Cal Fire 21904 acres.

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How fires get their names

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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CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Wednesday, October 24, 2007