California Fire News

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 90 percent Posted: 27 Aug 2007 09:37 PM GMT-06:00 Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Photographs Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 1:35 HRS. AGO Helicopter assisting with firing operation. Credit: Casey Christie - The Bakersfield Californian view pictures || view maps Summary Monday, August 27, 2007 8:00 AM Fire Status Acres Burned: 240,207 acres Fireline to Build: 2 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 90 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 42 Structures Threatened: 66 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Cost to date: $105 million dollars Resources Crews: 43 Engines: 91 Helicopters: 19 Air Tankers: 8 Air Attack: 3 Dozers: 20 Water Tenders: 72 Personnel Assigned: 2,004 Headlines Due to successful firefighting efforts on the northeastern edge of the Zaca Fire, Highway 33 is entirely open to the public. Please be mindful that there is the potential for fire engine traffic along this route for the next few days and travel with caution. The RECOMMENDED EVACUATION in the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33 has been lifted. Current Situation Yesterday's higher humidity and aggressive fire suppression resulted in minimal change to the fire's perimeter. Fire crews completed fireline around a large spot fire that started Friday in Brubaker Canyon and will continue building fireline today on a spot fire that started Saturday near Cuyama Peak. Both of these spots are located at the northeast corner of the fire, west of Highway 33. Aerial infrared photography and ground patrols will be used to identify and cool hot spots, primarily along completed fireline in the Sisquoc River drainage and the northern perimeter of the fire. Crews continue to make progress with rehabilitation efforts along fire lines and roads in the Live Oak Zone of the Zaca Fire. In addition to rehabilitation work the Live Oak Zone will be monitored by air. Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south have been lifted. All areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry; including the Snyder Trail, a popular mountain bike trail. Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures Highway 33 is entirely open to the public. Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. East Camino Cielo Road is now open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is still closed east of Gibraltar Road because it is within the Forest closure. Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to First Crossing Day Use Area. The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. The closure includes lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern Counties. The expanded closure encompasses approximately 888,000 acres including the entire San Rafael, Matilija, and Chumash Wildernesses, a portion of the Sespe Wilderness, and adjacent national forest lands. Detailed information on the closure can be found at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or www.inciweb.org or at a Los Padres National Forest office. Evacuations The RECOMMENDED EVACUATION in the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33 has been lifted. Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are now open. The Santa Ynez River Road, beyond the First Crossing and all associated recreation facilities are closed. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Human Caused Date of Origin 07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs. Location 9 miles North of Santa Barbara Incident Commander Opliger/ Hawkins Current Situation Total Personnel 2,136 Size 240,207 acres Percent Contained 90% Estimated Containment Date 09/07/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifer at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels. A continuous fuel bed lies ahead of the fire. Fire Behavior Live Oak Zone (South section): The fire in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage continues to creep around. Richardson Zone (Northeastern section): Some interior burning/torching with no growth in perimeter. Significant Events Live Oak Zone (South section): Progress is being made in the Suppression Rehab Branch. Richardson Zone (Northeastern section): Continue to line and mop up all slopovers. Progress is being made in the Suppression Rehab Branch. Outlook Planned Actions Not available Growth Potential Medium. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target Live Oak Zone: Fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: High potential for success of management strategy by Sept. 4th. Remarks Live Oak Zone: Type 2 Incident Management Team, So Calif Team1 will transition with CIIMT (Oplinger) on 8/29/07. Weather Current Wind Conditions 2 (g12) mph SE Current Temperature 84 degrees Current Humidity 34 %

Zaca Fire - BAER News Posted: 27 Aug 2007 09:32 PM GMT-06:00 Zaca Fire Suppression Rehabilitation and Burned Area Emergency Response - BAER Incident Information Announcements News Photographs Maps Incident: Zaca Released: 3 hrs. ago Background Information Suppression Rehabilitation "Fire Suppression Rehabilitation" also called "Fire Suppression Activity Damage Repair" involves the rehabilitation of constructed firelines---areas cleared of vegetation by hand and bulldozer to control the fire---in order to minimize erosion on the lines during winter rains. Rehabilitating base and spike camps, fixing fences, roads and drainage structures, and any other physical features that were damaged by efforts to put out the fire is also included in this type of work. Fire suppression rehabilitation is currently being conducted on dozer and hand lines; including lines within the wilderness. The Zaca Fire has over 300 miles of dozer and hand lines that will be analyzed for rehabilitation needs. Suppression rehabilitation is done largely by firefighters, and often begins even before the fire is contained. This work has started on both the Live Oak and Richardson Zones of the Zaca Fire. Particular care is taken by rehabilitation crews and resource advisors to help protect cultural resources, Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive species habitat, wetlands and other sensitive habitat areas during the rehabilitation process. There are many methods used in suppression rehabilitation, including construction of rolling dips and dirt "water bars" to divert water off the lines, scattering of cut brush on the lines, and other techniques. Firelines constructed along or intersecting Forest roads and trails may be rehabilitated to prevent trespass on the fireline by Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). Strategies to prevent OHV trespass can include placement of boulders and/or various types of temporary fencing materials as necessary to minimize the potential for unauthorized use of a fireline. Suppression Rehabilitation is coordinated with the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams(s). BAER - Burned Area Emergency Response BAER is a Forest Service program with the goal of protecting life, property, water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems from further damage from flooding after the fire is out. BAER does not seek to repair areas that were damaged by the fire, but to reduce further watershed damage from flooding or landslides due to the land being temporarily exposed in a fragile condition. The BAER Team members include specialists in hydrology, soil science, biology, geology, GIS, recreation facilities and engineering. The BAER Team will look for opportunities to mitigate potential impacts to downstream values such as reservoirs, homes, bridges, roads and critical wildlife and fisheries habitat. BAER assessments are conducted on Forest Service lands only. The Forest Service BAER Team coordinates and shares information with other Federal agencies and local agencies such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service and county watershed protection districts. These agencies may conduct separate assessments for private lands that occur off Forest Service lands. Once the BAER Team finishes its assessments, any recommendations for treatments will need to be approved by the Forest Service Regional or Washington Office before actions can be implemented. Once treatments are approved, an implementation team will be ordered and begin implementing the approved treatments.

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 90% Posted: 27 Aug 2007 12:58 PM GMT-06:00 Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 2 MIN. AGO Helicopter assisting with firing operation. Credit: Casey Christie - The Bakersfield Californian view pictures || view maps Summary Monday, August 27, 2007 8:00 AM Fire Status Acres Burned: 240,207 acres Fireline to Build: 2 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 90 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 42 Structures Threatened: 66 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Cost to date: $105 million dollars Resources Crews: 43 Engines: 91 Helicopters: 19 Air Tankers: 8 Air Attack: 3 Dozers: 20 Water Tenders: 72 Personnel Assigned: 2,004 Headlines Due to successful firefighting efforts on the northeastern edge of the Zaca Fire, Highway 33 is entirely open to the public. Please be mindful that there is the potential for fire engine traffic along this route for the next few days and travel with caution. The RECOMMENDED EVACUATION in the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33 has been lifted. Current Situation Yesterday's higher humidity and aggressive fire suppression resulted in minimal change to the fire's perimeter. Fire crews completed fireline around a large spot fire that started Friday in Brubaker Canyon and will continue building fireline today on a spot fire that started Saturday near Cuyama Peak. Both of these spots are located at the northeast corner of the fire, west of Highway 33. Aerial infrared photography and ground patrols will be used to identify and cool hot spots, primarily along completed fireline in the Sisquoc River drainage and the northern perimeter of the fire. Crews continue to make progress with rehabilitation efforts along fire lines and roads in the Live Oak Zone of the Zaca Fire. In addition to rehabilitation work the Live Oak Zone will be monitored by air. Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south have been lifted. All areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry; including the Snyder Trail, a popular mountain bike trail. Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures Highway 33 is entirely open to the public. Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. East Camino Cielo Road is now open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is still closed east of Gibraltar Road because it is within the Forest closure. Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to First Crossing Day Use Area. The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. The closure includes lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern Counties. The expanded closure encompasses approximately 888,000 acres including the entire San Rafael, Matilija, and Chumash Wildernesses, a portion of the Sespe Wilderness, and adjacent national forest lands. Detailed information on the closure can be found at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or www.inciweb.org or at a Los Padres National Forest office. Evacuations The RECOMMENDED EVACUATION in the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33 has been lifted. Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are now open. The Santa Ynez River Road, beyond the First Crossing and all associated recreation facilities are closed. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Human Caused Date of Origin 07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs. Location 9 miles north of Santa Barbara Incident Commander Opliger/ Hawkins Current Situation Total Personnel 2,004 Size 240,207 acres Percent Contained 90% Estimated Containment Date 09/07/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifer at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels. A continuous fuel bed lies ahead of the fire. Fire Behavior Live Oak Zone: The fire in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage continues to creep around. Richardson Zone: There was minimum fire behavior overnight. Significant Events Live Oak Zone: Progress is being made with fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Complete line construction on small spot and patrol larger spot near Brubaker Canyon. Complete containment of spots along Sierra Madre Ridge. Continue structure protection patrols along Hwy 33 to Pine Mt. Summit. Outlook Planned Actions Live Oak Zone: Patrol by air. Continue fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Monitor and mop up all slopovers. Patrol and mop up all spot fires. Patrol and mop up 1000 feet from structures. Continue rehabilitation efforts. Projected Movement Richardson Zone: West and North down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. North to Dry Canyon, East to Hwy 33. Growth Potential Medium. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target Live Oak Zone: Fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: High potential for success of management strategy by Sept. 4th. Remarks Richardson Zone: All road closures have been lifted. Weather Current Wind Conditions Not available Current Temperature 59 degrees Current Humidity 78 %

CAL FIRE - **Fire Behavior Alert** - Anchor and flank, One foot in the black Posted: 27 Aug 2007 12:40 PM GMT-06:00 **Fire Behavior Alert** THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR EXISTS THIS SEASON FOR ALL CAL FIRE UNITS AND CONTRACT COUNTIES The large number of early season shelter deployments and other fire behavior related incidents warrant a review of the conditions that contribute to extreme fire behavior. All of California is experiencing prolonged, record breaking drought and critical fuels conditions. Situational awareness is more than a buzz word – assess the big picture; FUELS-WEATHER-TOPOGRAPHY. Situation factors to consider: • Assess/scout the fire • Always include SAFETY in your actions; making it your number one priority! • Know the Weather • Know Previous & Predicted Fire Behavior • Have the Communications Plan & use it • Look for & understand Local Factors relating to fire behavior Concerns for Firefighters to Consider • Live fuel moisture samples across the state, and especially in Southern California, have been the lowest sampled in history. Critical fuel moisture will be reached at least two months early in most areas. The heat sink properties that live fuel moisture usually provide will be absent this season. Assume live fuels are fully available to burn. Low live fuel moistures and heavier than normal dead fuel accumulations under stressed vegetation will cause explosive fire behavior. • Weather conditions were unusually dry this spring with historically low rainfall and mountain snow pack over the entire state. Soil moisture is exceedingly low and large dead fuels are fully cured. Fuel beds will support rapid ignition, heavy spotting, & high intensity fire spread. • Energy Release Component (ERC) values are above the 90th percentile in all areas, and above the 97th percentile in the most critical areas of the state. The 97th percentile indicates that only 3% of observations have ever been recorded above that level; in other words, the ERC values currently being recorded in most areas of the state are at historical highs. Remember, the ERC calculation is dominated by fuels and does not consider wind or topography and typically trends better than other NFDRS Indices. • Topography plays a significant role in fire intensity through slope, aspect, and channeling. Watch for the daily changes in sun exposure over the various aspects and consider topographic channeling or alignment when evaluating your position. Mitigations Gather intelligence and remember the fundamentals – emphasize and implement LCES prior to engagement! Develop situational awareness of the critical conditions described above. Use your experience or ask the locals what situations cause the greatest difficulty. How's it burning? If your gut makes you anxious, there is probably a good reason! Re-evaluate your situation and act accordingly. Clear and concise communication must be maintained. Evaluate conditions continuously. Monitor fire weather conditions throughout your commitment. Pay attention to how internal and external distractions affect your risk-decisions. Focus on the Big Picture, not the narrow view immediately in front of you. You are empowered to make risk-decisions based on current and expected conditions and your evaluation of probability of success. When considering structure protection, ask yourself, "Is the structure defendable and would you be there if the structure was not?" Do not attempt a frontal assault on a fast moving fire. Existing conditions warrant a "back to the basics" approach to safely mitigate incidents; anchor and flank, one foot in the black, valid safety zones and escape routes. Once you figure all these things out, communicate them to all concerned and make sure someone is acting as a knowledgeable and capable lookout. DO NOT OVER COMMIT! THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR ALL DECISIONS IS FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL.

Babcock Fire - Yosemite National park - 210 acres with 0% percent contained Posted: 27 Aug 2007 10:34 AM GMT-06:00 Babcock Inc; Babcock Complex Fire is 210 acres with 0% percent contained. Started on or about 07/10/2007 (Evening) Location: 3/4 mi. north of Echo Valley and Merced Lake, east of Half in the Yosemite Wilderness (CA)located Nine (9) miles East of Yosemite Valley. This is a lightning fire that is being managed as a Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit (WFU). Low fire activity has been observed. 40% of the perimeter is active with occasional isolated torching, creeping and smoldering in closed Timber Litter. Resources Committed Two person ground crews are assigned to the fire. Strategy On the ground fire crews will continue to monitor the fire. Interagency Wildland Fire Use Modules may be utilized. Vegetation Affected Lodgepole pine Air / Smoke Issues Minimal smoke production has been observed. Smoke is mixing at or above tree top level and dispersing primarily to the northeast. Smoke is occassionally visible from Glacier and Olmstead Points and at various locations along Tioga Road and wilderness trails. Night time smoke is beginning to disperse into the Merced River drainage including Little Yosemite Valley. Benefits of the Burn Resource benefits of this fire are the removal of bug killed stands of Lodgepole pine. Other benefits include cleaning of forest understory of accumulations of duff, pine needles and undergrowth, and to recycle nutrients back into the soil.

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 240,207 acres - 90 percent Posted: 27 Aug 2007 07:58 AM GMT-06:00 Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 10 HRS. AGO Helicopter assisting with firing operation. Credit: Casey Christie - The Bakersfield Californian view pictures || view maps Summary Sunday, August 26, 2007 8:00 PM Fire Status Acres Burned: 240,207 acres Fireline to Build: 4 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 90 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 42 Structures Threatened: 66 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Cost to date: $104 million dollars Resources Crews: 36 Engines: 92 Helicopters: 20 Air Tankers: 8 Air Attack: 3 Dozers: 20 Water Tenders: 71 Personnel Assigned: 1,914 Headlines ·· Highway 33 is open from Wheeler Gorge to Lockwood Valley Road. Highway 33 between Lockwood Valley Road and Quatal Canyon Road is open to residents only, until further notice. ·· A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION remains in effect for the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33. Current Situation Last night firefighters continued line construction on yesterday's spot fire near Cuyama Peak and the northeast corner of the fire, west of Highway 33. Today, firefighters will focus in this same area utilizing both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Handcrews will conduct burn out and mop-up operations along the east portion of the fire near Ozena. Fireline in the northwest area in the Sisquoc River drainage has been completed. Rehabilitation of firelines has begun on the east side of the Richardson Zone of the fire. Structure protection remains in place along Highway 33. Crews continue to make progress with rehabilitation efforts along firelines and roads in the Live Oak Zone. In addition to rehabilitation work the Live Oak Zone will be monitored by air. Additional crews have been shifted to the Richardson Zone to assist with firefighting efforts there. Road closures and evacuations associated with the Live Oak fire suppression activities on the south have been lifted. All areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry; including the Snyder Trail, a popular mountain bike trail. State Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures ·· Highway 33 is open from Wheeler Gorge to Lockwood Valley Road. Highway 33 between Lockwood Valley Road and Quatal Canyon Road is open to residents only, until further notice. Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. East Camino Cielo Road is now open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road. East Camino Cielo is still closed east of Gibraltar Road because it is within the Forest closure. Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to First Crossing Day Use Area. The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. The closure includes lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern Counties. The expanded closure encompasses approximately 888,000 acres including the entire San Rafael, Matilija, and Chumash Wildernesses, a portion of the Sespe Wilderness, and adjacent national forest lands. Detailed information on the closure can be found at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or www.inciweb.org or at a Los Padres National Forest office. Evacuations ·· A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION remains in effect for the area from Ozena north to the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line west of Highway 33. A RECOMMENDED EVACUATION is issued when fire has advanced or is in a position relative to a particular area and poses imminent danger to life and property (i.e., time to leave). Recreation facilities along Paradise Road between Highway 154 and First Crossing, including Forest Service campgrounds and Rancho Oso Campground, are now open. The Santa Ynez River Road, beyond the First Crossing and all associated recreation facilities are closed. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Human Caused Date of Origin 07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs. Location 9 miles north of Santa Barbara Incident Commander Opliger/ Hawkins Current Situation Total Personnel 1,914 Size 240,207 acres Percent Contained 90% Estimated Containment Date 09/07/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Heavy brush containing a high dead component. Some conifer at higher elevations. Live fuel moistures are at 49% which is well below critical levels. A continuous fuel bed lies ahead of the fire. Fire Behavior Live Oak Zone: The fire in the island within the Santa Cruz drainage still has some movement. Richardson Zone: There was minimum fire behavior throughout the day. Significant Events Live Oak Zone: Progress is being made with fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Continued direct fire line construction on spot fire activity north west of Hwy 33. Continue structure protection patrols on the north east. Outlook Planned Actions Live Oak Zone: Continuing patroling from the air, and fire suppression rehabilitation. Richardson Zone: Monitoring and moping up all slopovers. Patroling and moping up all spot fires, as well as moping up 1000 feet from structures. Rehabilitation is now underway in the Richardson Zone. Projected Movement Richardson Zone: West and North down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. North to Dry Canyon, East to Hwy 33. Growth Potential Medium. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target Live Oak Zone: Fire management strategy has succeeded. Richardson Zone: High potential for success of management strategy by Sept. 4th. Remarks Richardson Zone: 90% containment, Decrease in acres by 1343 acres, due to more accurate mapping. The road closure from Ozena to Ventucopa was lifted today. Two injuries reported today, One Patient, serious injury due to fall, patient stabilized and medivaced to Santa Barbara. Weather Current Wind Conditions 10(g22) mph SW Current Temperature 87 degrees Current Humidity 20 %

Zaca Fire News: Highway 33 open, Two injuries reported today, One Patient, serious injury due to fall Posted: 27 Aug 2007 12:38 PM GMT-06:00 Zaca Fire News: Injuries -Two injuries reported today, One Patient, serious injury due to fall, patient stabilized and medivaced to Santa Barbara. Update(1) - There were two injuries yesterday from two separate incidents: One was a CDF firefighter that got hit by falling rock. The unofficial word is that this injury is not too bad. If anyone knows more, like, for example, the firefighter was treated and released, please let us know. The second was injury was to a firefighter on the Kern County Democrat Crew 87 who fell 30 feet. He was life flighted off the line within 45 minutes, to a hospital in Santa Barbara. Yesterday afternoon he was in surgery for a broken leg, pelvis fracture and sinus (face) injuries. I believe his family was with him or is with him now. He's due to be released today. Road open - Due to successful firefighting efforts on the northeastern edge of the Zaca Fire, Highway 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Quatal Canyon Road is now open to through traffic. Please be mindful that there is the potential for fire engine traffic along this route for the next few days, and travel with caution.

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