California Fire News

Inciweb: Zaca Wildland Fire - 232,449 acres - 83% Posted: 24 Aug 2007 02:04 AM CDT Zaca Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 3 HRS. AGO Zaca Fire Perimeter 08/23/07 Credit: Zaca Fire GIS / FIO view pictures || view maps Summary ZACA FIRE UPDATE Thursday, August 23, 2007 8:00 PM Fire Status Acres Burned: 232,449 acres Acreage Increase (last 12 hours): 3,016 acres Fireline to Build: 7 miles Date Started: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 am Percent Contained: 83 percent Expected Containment: September 7, 2007 Injuries: 40 Structures Threatened: 66 Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding Resources Crews: 67 Engines: 97 Helicopters: 12 Air Tankers: 8 Air Attack: 3 Dozers: 29 Water Tenders: 80 Total Personnel Assigned: 2,520 Cost to Date: $ 99.2 million Headlines: Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to the First Crossing Day Use Area. Highway 33 from Ventucopa to Ozena remains closed, except to residents. Fire officials hope to reopen Highway 33 to thru traffic by 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, contingent upon fire behavior and fire fighting success. Current Situation: Today's weather hindered firefighters' plans to burn near Brubaker Canyon and west of Cuyama River Wash along Highway 33 north of Rancho Nuevo Canyon. Firing operations began late this afternoon when favorable winds allowed for safe and effective fireline development. Although the fire made a run within the sage flats and river wash, it was suppressed and no fire crossed Highway 33. Major progress was made in controlling the western perimeter of the fire on both sides of the Sisquoc River. Crews closely monitored, patrolled, and extinguished hot spots along the north central perimeter of the fire. There was significant progress in rehabilitation efforts in the Live Oak Zone of the Zaca Fire. The Live Oak Zone has reached full containment and efforts continue to be focused on furthering rehabilitation and restoration of those areas affected by the fire and suppression activities. Road closures and evacuations associated with fire suppression activities have been lifted, however, all areas and roads included within the Los Padres National Forest Closure Area remain closed to public entry. State Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures: Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa will be closed to all traffic until Sunday, August 26, except for residents. 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 PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION is in effect for residents along the west side of Highway 33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line to Pine Mountain Summit. The EVACUATION WARNING for Paradise Road, Los Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch has been lifted. The EVACUATION WARNING for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to Ventura County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake 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 Oplinger/ Hawkins Current Situation Total Personnel 2,520 Size 232,449 acres Percent Contained 83% 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: Unburned fuel in the Santa Cruz drainage continued to actively burn back down slope. Richardson Zone: Active fire behavior associated with firing operations, minimal fire behavior in other areas. Significant Events Live Oak Zone: Fire Suppression Rehab continuing. Richardson Zone: DIV AA and BB direct line construction from Sierra Madre Ridge, South in to the Sisquoc River. Continue firing in DIV FF East to Hwy 33 and from Ozena North towards Brubaker Rd. Fixed wing air support on DIV FF South. Hold and monitor DIV CC, DD and HH. A precautionary Evacuation continues West of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn and is being coordinated by Ventura County Sheriffs, assisted by Santa Barbara Sheriffs. Hwy 33 remains closed. Outlook Planned Actions Live Oak Zone: Patrol and mop-up. Continue Fire Suppression Rehab. Richardson Zone: Hold and Mop up burnout operations in Division BB, and FF. Continue with firing and holding operations in DIV BB and FF as conditions allow. Road closure for Hwy 33. Direct line construction from the Sierra Madre Ridge South into the Sisquoc river this evening. Projected Movement Richardson Zone: West and North down Sisquoc River toward Sierra Madre Ridge. North to Dry Canyon, East to Hwy 33. Growth Potential Extreme. Terrain Difficulty Extreme. Containment Target Live Oak Zone: The direct and indirect Strategy should succeed by 8/23/07. Richardson Zone: High on ability to anchor and hold on Sierra Madre Ridge toward Hwy 33 and moderate from Pine Mtn. summit toward Ozena. Moderate on West perimeter. Remarks Richardson Zone: A Precautionary Evacuation Order is in place for the area west of Hwy 33 from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Co. line south to Pine Mountain Inn. Road Closure in effect on Hwy 33; Closed to all traffic from Pine Mountain Summit to Ozena. Weather Current Wind Conditions 5 (g18) mph SW Current Temperature 89 degrees Current Humidity 21 %

Inciweb: Snow Wildland Fire- 83 acres - 45% Posted: 23 Aug 2007 04:34 PM CDT Snow Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED Summary The Snow Fire began about 12 noon on Aug. 21, 2007 and is burning in heavy brush and timber. The fire began at the top of Mt San Jacinto in the Snow Creek area northeast of Black Mountain Group Campground in steep and rugged wilderness terrain. Six abandoned structure at Camp Lackey have been burned, but no communities are threatened. The cause of the fire is lightning. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Lightning Date of Origin 08/21/2007 at 1157 hrs. Location NE OF THE TOWN OF PINE COVE Incident Commander Dave Fiorella Current Situation Total Personnel 580 Size 83 acres Percent Contained 45% Estimated Containment Date 08/27/2007 at hrs. Fuels Involved Heavy brush and timber. Fire Behavior Single tree torching, slow rates of spread in ground fuels. Significant Events Six abandoned structures at Camp Lackey have been burned, but no communities are threatened. Manadatory evacuation of Black Mtn, Boulder Basin Campgrounds, the portion of the San Jacinto State Park Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail in the immediate fire area, remain in affect. Outlook Planned Actions Continue direct line construction where possible. Utilize aircraft to support ground operations. Projected Movement NE in the Snow Creek drainage. Possible spread south toward Fuller Ridge. Growth Potential Medium. Terrain Difficulty High Containment Target As resources arrive, the chosen strategy should succeed on 8/27. Remarks 19 crews, 9 helicopters, 16 engines, one dozer and 11 water tenders are on scene. Weather Current Wind Conditions 7 mph W Current Temperature 64 degrees Current Humidity 25 %

Italian Fire - CAL FIRE Update Posted: 23 Aug 2007 04:30 PM CDT Italian Fire Italian Fire Incident Information: Last Updated: August 23, 2007 11:00 am Date/Time Started: August 22, 2007 11:00 pm Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit County: Tuolumne County Location: Italian Bar Road and Yankee Hill Road, Columbia Acres Burned: Containment 40% contained - 40 acres Voluntary evacuations from Yankee Hill Road to Mountain Boy Mine Road. Road closures at Italian Bar Road between Dutch Mine Road and Experimental Mine Road, Cattle Drive at Yankee Hill Road, and Yankee Hill at Mountain Boy Mine Road. Phone Numbers (209) 754-5527 (Italian Fire Information)

Ojai safe from Zaca Wildland Fire, Zaca officials say Posted: 23 Aug 2007 04:17 PM CDT (1): Fire officials are confident the Zaca fire no longer poses a direct threat to Ojai. The fire had reached within 17 miles of the town on Monday. Firefighters kept the massive blaze from heading east and south through round-the-clock hard work, using bulldozers and hand crews to remove brush and other flammable material from the fire's path, said Capt. Barry Parker, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department. This morning, officials disbanded a command center set up at the VVentura County Fairgrounds. It was established earlier this week to coordinate efforts should the fire have gone toward Ojai. Though much progress has been made along the fire's eastern and southern flanks, Ventura County residents should expect to see a lot of smoke over the coming weeks, Parker said. The fire's northern flank is still a problem and is expected to generate huge plumes of smoke at least through the beginning of September, he said. Officials hope to have the fire fully contained by Sept. 7. But they caution that could change should there be hotter weather and more winds in the days to come.

CA-SCU-Mount Hamiliton - Structure Fire into Vegetation Posted: 23 Aug 2007 04:44 PM CDT CA-SCU-Mount Hamilton - Structure Fire into Vegetation Full Wildland response Near Observatory Webcam; (1) Mt Hamilton Ham Cam - Nothing Visible

Inciweb: Vista Wildland Fire - 200 acres - 0 percent Posted: 23 Aug 2007 03:20 PM CDT Vista Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps INCIDENT UPDATED 1:02 HRS. AGO Summary A wildland fire ignited around 11:30 a.m. yesterday in the Sequoia National Forest near the Sherman Pass Vista approximately 40 miles northeast of Kernville, California. The fire is burning in a southeasterly direction in a remote portion of the forest. The Vista Fire is approximately 200 acres+ burning in brush and timber. Currently, 75 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service are working the fire, including 4 engines, 1 patrol, 2 hand crews, 2 helicopters, and 2 air tankers. The biggest threat is to natural resources in the forested area on the Kern Plateau and to valuable wildlife habitat including California spotted owl, northern goshawk, and Pacific fisher habitat. Fire officials ask visitors to avoid traveling along the Sherman Pass Road for firefighter and public safety. Smoke drifting from the Vista fire may impact residents of the Kennedy Meadows community. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Basic Information Incident Type Wildland Fire Cause Under Investigation Date of Origin 08/22/2007 at 1130 hrs. Location South of Paloma Meadow Incident Commander Dave Brinsfield Current Situation Total Personnel 209 Size 200 acres Fuels Involved Timber,mixed conifer and some logging slash. Fire Behavior Fire remained active through the night creeping to the southeast toward Dark canyon and the Domeland wilderness. Significant Events Transition with Swartzlander's Type II team is expected today at 6:00pm. Outlook Planned Actions Continue holding and flanking with direct attack. Considerable line construction was accomplished through the night but is not secure for conditions expected today. Growth Potential High Terrain Difficulty Medium Containment Target Containment will depend on fire behavior during day shift. Remarks Initial concern regarding potential need for evacuation of forest visitors in the Blackrock area. No evacuations are in progress at this time. Weather Current Wind Conditions 1-5 mph NW Current Temperature 50 degrees Current Humidity 62 %

Manteca Fire - Walking code 3 to Structure fire Posted: 23 Aug 2007 01:21 PM CDT Scanner catch Dispatch: Structure fire, heavy smoke showing, calling back all personnel Unit xxx: We have five personnel at station xx Dispatch: Report to the Structure fire Unit xxx: We have five personnel, No equipment should we walk over? Dispatch: Checking with BC do have a portable? Unit xxx: Affirmative Dispatch: Go ahead and walk over...

CA-AEU- Belden IC - Vegetation Fire Posted: 23 Aug 2007 12:25 PM CDT Location: 15857 Belden Mine road / Black Prince road Comms: Amador151.190 tone 2, Tac: CDF Tac 2 tone 2 Resources: B-10, 2759, 2753, 27xx, WT 126 One unit on scene All units other cancelled

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