Red Cross opens shelter for Santa Barbara fire evacuees

by Kati Garner | August 8, 2007 at 05:44 pm

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August 8

A Red
Cross
emergency
shelter
with
medical
attendants
and 400
beds has
opened
at

Dos
Pueblos
High
School,

7266
Alameda
Ave,

Goleta,
896-2980.

Pets and
other
small
animals
are to
be taken
to the

Santa
Barbara
County
Animal
Shelter
at
Overpass
and
Patterson
in
Goleta.

To
contact
Red
Cross
Santa
Barbara
County
Chapter
Office
call
687-1331.

Watch
for
updates
as new
information
becomes
available.

In response to the Zaca Fire
and to further prepare the community for disasters of any kind, the
American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter is currently offering
free Disaster Relief classes at the Schott Center at 310 West Padre in
Santa Barbara.

Incident Name: Zaca Fire

Location: 15 miles northeast of Buellton, Santa Barbara County

Joint Unified Incident Management Teams: Los Padres National Forest and Santa Barbara County Fire Dept

Start Date & Report Time: July 4, 2007 at 10:53 a.m.

Acres: 72,050

Percent Containment: 68

Estimated Containment September 7, 2007

Hand Crews: 60

Dozers: 17

Engines: 111

Water Tenders: 30

Helicopters: 15

Air Tankers: 8

Air Attack: 2

Total Personnel: 2,370

Injuries: 14

Structures Threatened: 515

Fireline-to-Build: 44 miles

Estimated Cost-to-Date: $54.7 million

Significant Events: An EVACUATION ORDER
for Paradise Road and Lower Santa Ynez River Road to Gibraltar Dam
remains in effect. The Evacuation Order includes the Paradise Road
Community, Santa Ynez Road Recreational Areas to Gibraltar Dam, Los
Prietos Boys Camp, and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch. An EVACUATION ORDER continues for the Peachtree Community. An EVACUATION WARNING remains
in place for Happy Canyon Road north of Baseline Road, including the
ranches between Lake Cachuma and McKinley Ridge. The Los Padres
National Forest expanded closure is in
effect. The closure area is approximately 649,000 acres and is between
Hwy 166 in northern Santa Barbara County and Highway 33 and Matilija
Canyon in Ventura County. Detailed information on the closure can be
found at http://www.inciweb.org/ or at your local Forest Service Office.

Current Situation: The
north and east flanks of the fire remain difficult to contain due to
the west winds, fire activity, and poor access. Direct fire line was
successful in the south flank of the fire. The burning operation had
little progress due to higher humidity. The Bluff, Doty, and the Santa
Cruz historic cabins were saved with the work of crews preparing the
structures with wrapping material and brush clearance. The fire line at
the head of Peachtree Canyon continues to hold. Engine crews, hand
crews, and dozers will continue improving contingency lines and
preparing for structure protection.

A Cal-Fire base camp has
been established at the Earl Warren Show Grounds in Santa Barbara, and
will serve as base camp for the "Front Country Support Group". This
group consists of personnel and equipment who are currently preplanning
for communities in the Santa Barbara "front country" on the south
coast. It will support current fire fighting resources that would be
providing structure protection if the fire should threaten the above
areas.

Current Forest and Road 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 Order Area and is currently closed.
Hwy 154 is closed to general traffic between Foothill Road and Hwy 246. Travelers driving on San Marcos Pass (Hwy 154) should tune to 1040 AM.
Los Padres National Forest closure information and map are available on this website, and at local Forest Service offices.

Safety Message:
Travelers using SR-154, please be cautious of firefighting equipment
and personnel. Gibraltar Road, Painted Cave Road and East Camino Cielo
residents are also asked to be cautious of firefighting equipment and
personnel.

Approved by Unified Incident Commanders:

BILL MOLUMBY/ MARK SCHMITT

California Incident Management Team 2/ Santa Barbara County Fire Dept

The public can tune to the following radio stations for regular updates.

AM
Stations: KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KUHL-1410 and KINF-1440. FM Stations:
KCSB-91.9; KSPE-94.5 (Spanish); KSYV-96.7; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7;
KRAZ-105.9 and KIST-107.7.

El publico puede llamar a la linea de informacion de Zaca Fire al (805) 961-5770 para mas detalles o puede ir al WEB http://www.inciweb.org/ o http://www.countyofsb.org/ o http://www.sbcfire.com/. El publico tambien puede escuchar noticias por radio. AM KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7; KRAZ-105.9 y KIST-107.7.

Basic Information

Incident Type

Cause

Date of Origin

Location

Incident Commander

Wildland Fire
Human Caused
07/04/2007 at 1053 hrs.
15 miles NE of Buellton
Bill Molumby/ Mark Schmit

Current Situation

Total Personnel

Size

Percent Contained

Estimated Containment Date

Fuels Involved

Fire Behavior

Significant Events

2,370
72,050 acres
68%
09/07/2007 at hrs.
Oak/conifer woodland and brush up to 20 feet. A heavy dead fuel component within the live brush. Live fuel moistures are well below critical levels.
Active burning was observed overnight. Fire spread was primarily backing down slope with an occasional uphill runs.
An evacuation order remains in effect for Peachtree, Paradise Road and the Lower Santa Ynez River Road to Gibraltar Dam. This includes the Paradise Road Community, Santa Ynez Road Recreational Areas to Gibraltar Dam, Los Prietos Boys Camp and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch. Highway 154 remains closed between Foothill Road and Highway 246. The day shift firing operation was successful on the south portion of the fire. Control lines held through the night, improving defensive lines protecting the Peach Tree community. Direct line was extended on the north side of the fire. Additional historic structures were pre-treated for fire protection.

Outlook

Planned Actions

Projected Movement

Growth Potential

Terrain Difficulty

Containment Target

Remarks

Preparation for firing operations, firing operations, and holding tactics are planned for a section of Old Man Road. Direct line construction when and where conditions allow. Indirect and contingency line construction is to continue on the south and east. The eastern end of the fire will be attacked using aerial resources due to poor access and the potential for extreme fire behavior. Structures threatened by the fire in the Camino and Fremont Branches will continue to be identified and prepared for structure protection.
West winds are expected to transition to north winds, creating a potential spread towards the south.
Extreme.
Extreme.
With the west wind transitioning to a north wind, the current strategy will be challenged. With the success of the firing operations that were done yesterday, the fire should remain north of the Camuesa Road.
Not available