California Fire News

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 134,396 acres - 59 percent Posted: 16 Aug 2007 10:00 PM CDT Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 2 MIN. AGO NEWS RELEASE Forest Service Closes Additional Areas in Los Padres National Forest Date: August 14, 2007 Los Padres National Forest ... more Zaca Fire Map picture Map shows uncontrolled fire extent and primary control lines. Credit: Zaca GIS Section view pictures || view maps Summary Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:00 AM Joint Unified Command: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Department On the Web: http://www.sbcfire.com/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or http://www.inciweb.org/ Fire Information Phone Line: (805) 961-5770 Fire Status Acres Burned: 127,244 acres Acreage Increase (last 12 hours):10,530 acres Fireline to Build: 16 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 63 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 29 Structures Threatened: 595 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Resources Crews: 69 Engines: 123 Helicopters: 18 Air Tankers: 8 Air Attack: 3 Dozers: 38 Water Tenders: 73 Total Personnel Assigned: 2,853 Cost to Date: $73.4 million Current Situation: The fire has established itself at the bottom of Mono drainage and made slope runs to the Hildreth Jeepway. Efforts are aimed at holding the fire on this ridge. If these efforts prove unsuccessful it will prompt fire officials to consider executing predetermined plans to utilize backfire operations in conjunction with direct and indirect line construction. Efforts will be focused on completing direct fireline from the Ogilvy Ranch area to the Hildreth Jeepway and to consider conducting backfiring operations from the Jeepway east toward Highway 33. Current strategies of direct attack will continue while fire managers review contingency plans and adjust suppression tactics as needed. On the northern perimeter, firefighters will continue today conducting a backfire operation to burnout out vegetation between the fireline and the main fire which is actively burning in Sisquoc, Cliff and Logan Canyons. Firefighters were successful in securing four miles of fireline from Santa Barbara Canyon to Sweetwater Ridge. On the east perimeter, the fire continues to actively burn in area known as the Narrows in Mono Canyon and is moving east towards the Matilija Wilderness. Firefighters will also begin a backfire operation in the area around Potrero Seco. The active fire is still burning within the indirect fire lines that the incident commanders have established to contain this fire. Hwy 33 between Ojai and Cumaya and the Lockwood Road may close today while firefighters conduct a firing operation to secure the fireline on the eastern perimeter of the fire. The decision to close the road is dependent on fire activity. Incident Commanders are working with the California Highway Patrol in conjunction with Santa Barbara and Ventura County Sheriff Offices on a traffic closure plan. Contingency lines in the areas of Paradise Road, Camuesa Road, the Sierra Madre Ridge, Pendola Road, and the Matilija Wilderness are completed. These lines may reduce the need for firing operations in those areas and will provide firefighters with other suppression options that may be needed in the event that changing conditions warrant such action. Forest, Road and Area Closures: Happy Canyon Road is closed at Los Padres National Forest boundary. Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres National Forest boundary. East Camino Cielo is closed between Painted Cave Road and Gibraltar Road due to fire equipment traffic. Paradise Road is within the Evacuation Warning Area and is currently open to residents only. The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest has been expanded to include additional lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties. The expanded closure now 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 http://www.inciweb.org/ or your local Forest Service Office. Evacuations: The EVACUATION ORDER for Paradise Road residents, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch has been downgraded to an EVACUATION WARNING. The Santa Ynez River Road campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads remain closed. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Human Caused Date of Origin 07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs. Location 15 miles NE of Buellton Incident Commander Molumby/ Schmit/ Dietrich Current Situation Total Personnel 2,917 Size 134,396 acres Percent Contained 59% 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 south side of the fire: The fire continued to advance towards the east, mostly with backing fire with occasional intense uphill runs due to roll-out and spotting. Heavy smoke impeded fire attack and air operations. North side of the fire: Backing and flanking; uphill runs with extreme fire behavior where drainages align with winds on most portions of the fire. Significant Events South side of the fire: The Paradise Road and Santa Ynez River Recreation remain under an evacuation warning, open to residents only. North side of the fire: Major fire runs south of the Sisquoc river on the western perimeter in Division AA. Fire is well established in Mono Creek three miles west of Three Sisters. Continued burnout operations to the east in Divisions DD and EE. Completed burning in Division CC. Initiated burning in Division BB. Working to establish Ozena Spike Camp. Continue construction of contingency lines east of Hwy 33 in the Pine Summit area. Outlook Planned Actions South side of the fire: Patrol, mop-up, and improve existing control lines. Conduct burnout and holding operations along the Hildreth Jeepway and Potrero Seco Road. Perform recon, planning and contingency line construction in Branch IX. Prepare to implement the contingency plan. North side of the fire: Monitor and hold burnout operation in Divisions BB, DD and EE. Begin burnout in Division HH near Three Sisters at the headwaters of Mono Creek. Coordinate back fire operations with south side of the fire. Projected Movement Projections for the fire's activity in the next 12 hours. South side of the fire: The fire continued actively spreading to the east up Mono and Agua Caliente Canyons. North side of the fire: Northward past Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge, Santa Barbara Canyon and Cuyama Peak; south to Mono Creek and Aqua Caliente canyons. Growth Potential Extreme. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target South side of the fire: Indirect line strategy should succeed by 9/7. North side of the fire: Containment strategy has a moderate chance of succeeding, based on the ability to anchor and hold the fire on Sierra Madre Ridge, toward Hwy 33 and from Highway 33 west, to Three Sisters Ranch. Remarks South side of the fire: The fire is in Mono Creek and Agua Caliente Canyons. The fire overran the Hildreth Jeepway and became established in Agua Caliente Canyon. Burning operations are being implemented along the secondary containment lines. Resources are engaging the fire on the east side of the Olgivy burn scar and preparing for indirect attack. Percentage of containment and line to build are now being calculated based on the projected control lines. Acreage will continue to reflect actual acres consumed. North side of the fire: No input pertaining to actual fire. Weather Current Wind Conditions 3 (g-7) mph W Current Temperature 84 degrees Current Humidity 25 %

Tar Canyon wildfire fully contained Posted: 16 Aug 2007 09:50 PM CDT Hanford Sentinel: Tar Canyon wildfire fully contained, crews exit By Natalie Ragus nragus@HanfordSentinel.com State fire officials said this morning that firefighters have completely controlled and contained a major fire in rural Kings County. A total of 1,340 firefighters, 77 engines, 20 bulldozers and six helicopters from around the state battled the fire, which consumed more than 5,600 acres. Calfire spokesman David Brooks said Calfire officials have released all personnel from duty, and returned all equipment used to fight the blaze. 'The fire is done,' Brooks said simply. On Friday around 5:30 p.m., the fire broke out in Diablo Canyon about nine miles southwest of Avenal and then spread to Tar Canyon, and has been called the largest blaze in either Fresno or Kings county in several years. A threatened power grid and an unconfirmed report of asbestos initially had firefighters and officials concerned. A geologist found only two areas containing natural asbestos, which were near firefighting equipment, Calfire officials reported. As a precaution, officials pulled 300 firefighters from the line, and had them decontaminated. But the asbestos was in rock, not dust form, and proved not likely a threat. A Calfire spokesman said Wednesday firefighters quickly created fire lines around the power grid, which provides power throughout the San Joaquin Valley, and no residents reported a power outage. State fire crews wlll now shift full focus back to battling the Zaca fire in Santa Barbara County. As of Wednesday, the blaze was 58 percent contained and had consumed more than 105,000 acres.

Zaca Fire - Amazing pyrocumulus clouds forming - Time lapse video Posted: 16 Aug 2007 09:09 PM CDT Time Lapse Zaca Fire, August 14, 2007 Amazing time lapse video of Pyrocumulus cloud This time lapse movie of the Zaca Fire was taken in the Santa Ynez Mountains from 11:54 PM to 1:34 PM on Tuesday, August 14, 2007. It illustrates pyrocumulus clouds forming above the rising hot air from the fire. The action is speeded up 125x. YouTube video of Ice caps forming then collapsing over and over last week-end on the Zaca Fire this video is great for fire science study... Another YouTube Zaca Fire The Zaca just explodes in this version Video time lapse video from sbpope Technorati Tags:Zaca, Fire, pyrocumulus, timelapse

Picture of ZACA Fire header Posted: 16 Aug 2007 07:22 PM CDT ZACA Header From The Laguna Hot Shots website as they start round 2 on the ZACA 2 The crew was on the Zaca when it started on July 4th. The fire is currently 127, 244 acres, that's a growth of 125,944 acres since the crew demobed from the Zaca on July 13th. The fire grew 10, 530 acres in the last 12 hours and is 63% contained and is currently heading east into Ventura County.. There is 16 miles of handline to be put in. Editor: I took many pictures of this large header/Smoke Plume on the ZACA Fire then deleted them by accident while at the TAR Fire... I found this photo on another site I believe showing the same event on Aug 13 the fire got into some heavy fuels during a burning operation and created a huge header changing into a icecap for a short while before collapsing.. Megaton Thunderhead from Hell Credit: Back of the cereal box - By Drew

Angora Wildfire - Incident Status Summary: Updated Posted: 16 Aug 2007 06:27 PM CDT Disaster Preparedness and Response 2007 Angora Wildfire View of hillside after the Angora Fire. More photos... The devastating wildfire in the Tahoe Basin consumed 3,100 picturesque acres, more than 254 residences, and 75 outbuildings. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), in cooperation with El Dorado County and several other State agencies, is racing to protect, remediate, and restore this national treasure as quickly as possible. Incident Status Summary: Wednesday, August 15, 2007, 1900 Hours (7 p.m., PST) Day 32 and we remain an injury-free project. Debris Tonnage for August 14 15 tons of metal were delivered for recycling. 167 tons of concrete were delivered for recycling. 2,214 tons of ash debris were delivered for disposal. 40,401 tons have been removed in 31 days. 260 Number of sites requiring debris removal, known as of July 31. Change of: 0. 259 Number of sites registered for the removal project. Change of: 0. 255 Number of sites ready for debris removal. Change of: 0. 193 Number of sites that have completed the removal stage. Change of: +12. 165 Number of sites in the sampling stage (under testing). Change of: +21. 48 Number of sites with sample results approved (new reporting category). Change of: +48 5 Number of sites certified by El Dorado County as ready for a building permit. Change of: 0. Resources assigned to the project: 8 excavators: change of 0; 4 loaders: change of 0; 3 track steers: change of 0; 9 water trucks: change of 0; 61 end dumps (40-foot long dump trucks): change of 0; 79 personnel: change of +2; 1 elevated water drop tank. Weekly Traffic Plan: August 13-18, 2007 (Adobe PDF, 148 KB) Recovery Phase Waste Facilities and More Resources Guidance Documents Contacts State Agencies Recovery Phase As the Angora fire emergency moves into the recovery phase, CIWMB has entered into an agreement with El Dorado County to have its contractor, A. J. Diani, remove construction debris, including destroyed cars, foundations, building materials, white goods, and household contents; perform random soil sampling of the building sites; and perform interim erosion/storm water run off controls. A Proclamation of Emergency was issued by local, state and federal governments in El Dorado County. The right-of-entry permit allows California Integrated Waste Management Board and El Dorado County to proceed with cleanup on privately owned properties. Disaster Debris Management Guidance on disaster debris management, including selecting and securing temporary storage sites, is available in Local Enforcement Agency Advisory #43--Disaster Assistance, as well as in the Disaster Plan. LEA Advisory #43 also contains guidance on financial and technical assistance, as well as information to collect for the CIWMB. For Private Contractors: The document Project Specifications for the Angora Fire Structural Debris Removal--Lake Tahoe, California (Adobe PDF, 386 KB, dated July 16, 2007), is one of two structural debris removal plans prepared by CIWMB for El Dorado County. Other guidance documents are listed further below. Waste Facilities and More Resources Household Hazardous Waste Facilities (Adobe PDF, 982 KB). This document lists all the active permanent and temporary HHW collection programs in California and their contacts. The facilities take most HHW waste with some restrictions. Materials that may be dropped off are batteries, oil, oil filters, latex paint, antifreeze, and other universal waste. eRecycle.org. This website lists all the electronic waste recyclers in El Dorado County. Auto Dismantling and Recycling Auto Scrap Recyclers (SIC Code 5093): MS Excel, 245 KB Auto Parts Recyclers (SIC Code 5015): MS Excel, 427 KB Guidance Documents CIWMB Local Enforcement Agency Advisory #43--Disaster Assistance. Guidance on disaster debris management, including selecting and securing temporary storage sites. Local Enforcement Agency Advisory #41--Emergency Waiver of Standards. Guidance on the issuance of emergency waivers. Integrated Waste Management Disaster Plan. The Board's 1997 plan contains information and case studies that can assist local governments in recovery efforts. --The Executive Summary includes checklists that direct you to the information on pertinent topics. --Chapter 4 includes information on temporary storage and waivers. --Chapter 5 contains information on and examples of debris management contracts. --Chapter 17 includes case studies of the 1991 Oakland Fire and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake debris management programs and examples of ordinances and contracts used to manage the debris. Note: FEMA reimbursement requirements may have changed since the CIWMB's Disaster Plan was adopted. Please go to the FEMA website for up-to-date information on reimbursement requirements. Project Specifications for the Angora Fire Structural Debris Removal--Lake Tahoe, California (Adobe PDF, 386 KB, dated July 16, 2007). One of two structural debris removal plans prepared by CIWMB for El Dorado County. Asbestos-Containing Ash and Disaster Debris. Solid waste landfills accepting ash or other disaster debris that contains greater than 1 percent friable asbestos by weight that are not already permitted to accept such waste must obtain an emergency waiver specific to this waste type pursuant to the procedure set forth in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 3, Article 3. Where the Enforcement Agency has issued a waiver, the ash or debris containing greater than 1 percent friable asbestos should be handled in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 17897.18 "Design and Operating Requirements" for solid waste facilities that dispose of asbestos-containing waste. Guidance on rebuilding your home that can save or reduce resources in five categories: site, water, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Other Cal/EPA Boards, Departments, and Offices Handling Ash, Debris and other Hazardous Materials from Burned Structures in El Dorado County. Emergency Guidance Fact Sheet on Angora Wildfire #1, Department of Toxic Substances Control, July 2007 Interim Recommendations for Disposal of Animal Carcasses Associated with Fires (Adobe PDF, 165 KB). State Water Resources Control Board, November 1, 2003 Other State Agency Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Provides Consumer Tips to Avoid Getting Burned Twice (California Department of Insurance press release, July 2, 2007). The Commissioner reminds fire survivors of helpful resources available at no cost. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Affected local governments in El Dorado County may be eligible to receive up to 75 percent of the eligible cost for debris removal and emergency protective measures that were undertaken in response to the fires. The emergency declaration also makes cost-shared funding available to the state for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. FEMA brochures and information on specific disaster debris issues are located at the following sites: Debris Removal Information Debris Management Brochure Fact Sheet: Debris Operations-Clarification: Emergency Contracting vs. Emergency Work Disposing of Debris and Removing Hazardous Waste Demolition of Private and Public Facilities Debris Removal Starts with Property Owner Contacts CIWMB Office of Local Assistance Contacts. The Board's Office of Local Assistance staff can help local governments to locate disaster debris processors and example disaster debris contracts and ordinances. CIWMB Permitting and Enforcement Contacts. Staff contacts for local enforcement agency reference. --Permitting: Virginia Humphreys --Inspections: Randy Friedlander The Franchise Hauler: South Tahoe Refuse Company El Dorado County State Agencies California Integrated Waste Management Board California Environmental Protection Agency California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection: Angora Fire incident information Governor�s Office of Emergency Services: Fire Season 2007 Last updated: August 16, 2007

[EDIS] Red flag warning remains in effect - Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Siskiyou, Posted: 16 Aug 2007 06:23 PM CDT [EDIS] Red flag warning remains in effect until 8 pm pdt this evening for gusty winds and low relative humidities CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY INCLUDING SHASTA VALLEY-SISKIYOU COUNTY FROM THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS EAST AND SOUTH TO MTSHASTA-MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST- A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR IN FIRE WEATHER ZONES 281... 284 AND 285 IN CALIFORNIA AND ZONE 624 IN OREGON. SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING. THE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN VERY DRY WITH MINIMUM HUMIDITIES EARLY THIS EVENING BETWEEN 5 AND 15 PERCENT. Instruction: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS... LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL. Area: CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY INCLUDING SHASTA VALLEY-SISKIYOU COUNTY FROM THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS EAST AND SOUTH TO MTSHASTA-MODOC COUNTY EXCEPT FOR THE SURPRISE VALLEY-KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST- Affected Counties or parts of: Modoc, Siskiyou, Sent: 2007-08-16T15:47:41-07:00 Original Sender: KMFR@nwws.oes.ca.gov From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR

[EDIS] RED FLAG WARNING - Gusty winds and low humidity today Posted: 16 Aug 2007 06:19 PM CDT [EDIS] gusty winds and low humidity today WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ... RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT TONIGHT BURNEY BASIN AND NORTHEAST PLATEAU IN SHASTA COUNTY INCLUDINGNORTHWEST LASSEN NF NORTH OF LASSEN NP-STANISLAUS NF WEST OF THE SIERRA CREST-NORTHERN SIERRA INCLUDING LASSEN NP AND PLUMAS AND LASSEN NF/SWEST OF THE SIERRA CREST (WEST OF EVANS PEAK-GRIZZLY PEAK-BECKWORTH PEAK)-NORTHERN SIERRA INCLUDING THE TAHOE AND ELDORADO NF/S WEST OF THESIERRA CREST- .AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TODAY. THIS WILL CAUSE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE WEST SLOPES OF THE SIERRA NEVADA INCLUDING THE BURNEY BASIN. GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH LOW HUMIDITY...WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ... RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT TONIGHT... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO CONTINUES THE RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM PDT TONIGHT. THE WARNING INCLUDES THE BURNEY BASIN...AND PORTIONS OF THE LASSEN...PLUMAS...TAHOE.. .ELDORADO AND STANISLAUS NATIONAL FORESTS. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EVENING. SUSTAINED WINDS FROM 12 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS FROM 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED MAINLY OVER THE RIDGE TOPS. HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED IN THE TEENS OVER MUCH OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. Instruction: PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING. Area: BURNEY BASIN AND NORTHEAST PLATEAU IN SHASTA COUNTY INCLUDINGNORTHWEST LASSEN NF NORTH OF LASSEN NP-STANISLAUS NF WEST OF THE SIERRA CREST-NORTHERN SIERRA INCLUDING LASSEN NP AND PLUMAS AND LASSEN NF/SWEST OF THE SIERRA CREST (WEST OF EVANS PEAK-GRIZZLY PEAK-BECKWORTH PEAK)-NORTHERN SIERRA INCLUDING THE TAHOE AND ELDORADO NF/S WEST OF THESIERRA CREST- Affected Counties or parts of: Yuba, Plumas, Yolo, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Sierra, Alpine, Shasta, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Placer, Solano, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Lake, Tehama, Nevada, Sent: 2007-08-16T06:14:56-07:00 Original Sender: KSTO@nwws.oes.ca.gov From: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA

ZACA FIRE News: 100,000 acres could be burned out Posted: 16 Aug 2007 04:01 PM CDT Zaca Fire to force Highway 133 closures, Backfires could double the size of the fire The Zaca Fire is forcing closures on another highway, fire authorities said Wednesday. A schedule of the closures is still being developed, fire officials said. Portions of Highway 33 at the eastern edge of Santa Barbara County will be closed intermittently so firefighters can set "burnout" fires and construct fire lines in the area, officials said. The scheduled burns near Highway 33 are a result of the decision to intentionally start a series of fires around the Zaca Fire within a large part of the back country northeast of the Santa Ynez Valley. The scheduled burns could take up to 10 days and add more than 100,000 acres of burned forest - doubling the current size of the fire - primarily in the rugged, remote and roadless Dick Smith Wilderness. The strategy is intended to help control the six-week-old blaze by depriving it of fuel.

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