NASA helps to fight Zaca Fire

SANTA BARBARA & CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

NASA drone aids Zaca firefighting efforts in Ventura & Santa Barbara

The unmanned aircraft was used to map the front of the stubborn blaze, which has burned 235,000 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

By Catherine Saillant, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

August 28, 2007

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Firefighters battling the stubborn Zaca fire got an assist last week from a high-flying unmanned aircraft, NASA and Ventura County officials said Friday.

NASA's Ikhana, a Predator B drone adapted for civil missions, flew over the wide-ranging fire zone once in the morning and again in the afternoon of Aug. 16, 2007 to map where the flames were heading.

The fire, which has consumed more than 235,000 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, is 83% contained. Incident commanders said they hoped to have full containment by Sept. 7.