CA-LPF- La Brea - Wildland Fire(Heavy Chaparral) 20,622 acres, 10%

CA-LPF- La Brea - Wildland Fire - Las Padres National Forest

Evacuations: Santa Barbara County Evacuation Warning Issued in La Brea Fire
Western Boundary: Sierra Madre Road.
Southern Boundary: Cottonwood Road.
Eastern Boundary: Highway 166.
Northern Boundary: Spoor Canyon This area includes Moon and Eckert Canyons.

Fire officials contacted the 14 occupied ranches in the area last night and they are moving livestock as necessary. The majority of the area is very lightly populated.

An Evacuation Warning is defined as alerting community members in a defined area of a threat to life and property from an emergency incident. Fire managers will alert the Sheriff Office if fire behavior in the future requires a change to the warning status.

CA-LPF- La Brea - Wildland Fire perimeter Map

Update: 08-11-09 - 08:00 -Per Inciweb: Fire has sloped over the line in the Timber Peak area along Sierra Madre Ridge. There is 290 acre slope over in Moon Canyon. La Brea Fire: Inciweb updated 2 mins ago... http://inciweb.org/incident...
Update: 10:00 - Fire officials now report that the La Brea wildfire has burned 20,622 acres. The blaze @ 10% containment
Update: 1800hrs Inciweb just updated La Brea Fire to 14,778 acres, This must be from early AM? yesterday?CA-LPF- La Brea - Updated MODIS Satellite fire perimeters

August 10, 2009 2:00 pm Credit: CFN Map derived from Geomac - Link

CA-LPF- La Brea - Wildland Fire Perimeter Map

La Brea Fire

Santa Lucia Ranger District - Los Padres National Forest
August 10, 2009 8:00 am Credit: CFN Map derived from Geomac - Link

Incident Overview
08/10/2009 @0600

CIIMT Team-3 (Pincha-Tulley) assumed command of the fire this morning at 0600.

Fire location: 21 miles east of Santa Maria - GPS: 34.95 latitude, -119.978 longitude
Date/time started: August 8, 2009 @2:50pm
Total acres burned: 10,500+
Percent contained: 0%
Fire line to be constructed: 21 miles
Fire Behavior: Fire behavior was moderate last night due to increased relative humidity. No major runs or spotting was observed.
Significant events: A closure of the forest in and around the area of the fire is in place. Evacuations of hunters and campers in front of and adjacent to the fire were made.
Expected containment: unknown
Expected control: unknown
Suppression costs to date: unknown
Structures damaged/destroyed: 0
Cause: Under Investigation

Resources assigned:
9 Engines, 20 Crews, 11 Dozers, 7 Air Tankers, 6 Helicopters

Terrain/vegetation/difficulties: Steep inaccessible terrain; heavy fuels (chaparral), limited access.

Closures: The portion of the forest from the intersection of SR-166 and Sierra Madre Road east to McPherson Peak, south to the Sisquoc and west to the forest boundary is currently closed due to the fire emergency. Campgrounds in the area have been evacuated.

Current situation: The La Brea Fire, which started on Saturday, August 8 at 2:50 pm, continues to burn in an area of the San Rafael Wilderness that is very steep and difficult to reach on the ground.
Heavy 87 year old fuels (vegetation), long range spotting and moderate to rapid rates of spread have continued to hamper fire fighters in their efforts to contain the fire. Extreme fire behavior has been observed since the fire began. Flames from the fire could be seen on the Sierra Madre ridgeline from areas along SR-166 yesterday afternoon and evening. Last night fire behavior was moderate due to increased relative humidity. No major runs or spotting were observed.

Evacuations: Campgrounds in and around the area of the fire have been evacuated.
Closures and road status: SR-166 is open. The portion of the forest from the intersection of SR-166 and Sierra Madre Road southeast to McPherson Peak, south to the Sisquoc River and west to the forest boundary is currently closed due to the fire emergency. This closure includes the entire Colson area. Campgrounds in the area have been evacuated.

Incident Commander: Jeanne Pincha-Tulley-USFS
Incident Command Post location: Elks-Unocal Event Center (Santa Maria)
Agencies: U.S. Forest Service, Santa Barbara County Fire Dept., Ventura County Fire Dept., CAL FIRE, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Dept., Vandenberg Air Force Base, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Current Weather: RAWS: LPF Portable 3 : http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=TR154

Inciweb: La Brea Fire Link

LPF Call Center
Phone: 805-961-5770
Note: Cause of the La Brea fire is under investigation. Tip line for you to call with any information: 686-5074.
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