Smoke from huge SoCal wildfire causing unhealthful air

Smoke from huge SoCal wildfire causing unhealthful air
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 08/18/2007 11:47:16 AM PDT
 
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—Smoke and ash from an enormous Santa Barbara County wildfire caused potential health problems in three counties Saturday.
 
Anti-smog agencies said sooty particles from the blaze in Los Padres National Forest could make the air unhealthy for sensitive people at times in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and as far east as the San Gabriel Mountains, more than 50 miles away.
 
The fire that began on July 4 has burned 171,750 acres of wilderness, or more than 268 square miles. It burned more than 16,300 acres of backcountry overnight but remained well within firebreaks set a mile or more ahead of the flames, fire spokesman Victor Gutierrez said.
 
"As the fire reaches those areas it runs out of fuel and it dies," he said.
 
Gutierrez said columns of smoke could be seen as far away as Palmdale, about 65 miles east of the fire.
 
The fire was 59 percent contained. Full containment has been predicted for Sept. 7. The fire has cost nearly $79 million to fight since it was ignited by sparks from equipment being used to repair a water pipe.
 
The fire was about four miles away from the Ventura County line and about eight miles from the wealthy Santa Barbara County communities of Montecito and Carpinteria.
 
Winds were light and no homes were in immediate danger but the fire was unpredictable as it charged through steep canyon wilderness and century-old chaparral.
 
"We are still asking people to keep an ear on the
Advertisement
radio and watching their TV for any changes," Gutierrez said.
 
Ventura County, state and U.S. authorities planned a community meeting Sunday to brief residents of the city of Ojai and neighboring communities about the anticipated fire activity and possible evacuations or road closures that may become necessary, the county Fire Department said.
 
Nearly 1,400 square miles of wilderness and forest lands in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties remained closed to visitors.