CA-LPF- Ponderosa - Wildland Fire 458 acres 79%

PONDEROSA FIRE UPDATE

Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest

Thursday, August 6, 10:00 am

Information Center: (951)225-4525 or (951) 225-4526

(7am-9pm)

Fire information online: www.inciweb.org/incident/1785

Fire Statistics Acres burned: 458 ac. Miles of fireline to build: 0.5 miles Date started: 8-1-2009 Percent contained: 79% Expected containment: 8-9-2009 Firefighter injuries to date: 3 Minor, Firefighters returned to duty Structures threatened: 0 Structures destroyed: 0 Suppression cost to date: $2,400,000

Firefighting Resources Crews: 14 Engines: 26 Helicopters: 7 Air tankers: 0 Dozers: 3 Total personnel assigned: 743

Current Status: Last night crews were successful in continuing to strengthen and widen areas of the line. Today with the predicted cold front passage, crews will be patrolling, strengthening, and mopping up all areas of the fire. Areas of the fire were mapped by an infra red helicopter to assist crews with any remaining hot spots.

* For information on the Sam Jones Fire please visit the Ft. Hunter Liggett website at www.liggett.army.mil.

Highway, Road and Area Closures: Highway-1 is open. Nacimiento-Ferguson Road is open from Hwy 1 to the junction with the South Coast Ridge Road to residents only, as well as Los Burros/ Willow Creek Rd. Nacimiento Ferguson Road is closed from the junction with the South Coast Ridge Road to Ft. Hunter Liggett. Ponderosa and Nacimiento camp grounds will remain closed.

Media: Media must be escorted through Ft. Hunter Liggett. The Ponderosa Information center located in King City will closed at 12:00pm today and all inquires should be made to the number above.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Effective Wednesday, August 5, 2009, the Los Padres National Forest will impose additional fire restrictions. These additional restrictions are in response to the increasing fire danger and possibility of wildland fire. The additional fire restrictions include:

• Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except at Winchester Gun Club in Santa Barbara County and the Ojai Valley Gun Club in Ventura County. Hunting with a valid California hunting license is exempt from this restriction.
• Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building or campfire use site.

For additional information regarding fire restriction already in place visit the Los Padres National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres.

Weather: Temperature: 76-83 degrees, Relative Humidity: 25-30%, Winds: West to Northwest, 6-12 mph with gusts to 20mph.

Agencies & Cooperators: Ft. Hunter Liggett, CalFire, CHP, Monterey County Sheriff’s Dept.