Zaca Fire: Moving east

 Updated 08/20/07 8:00 p.m.

source | Santa Barbara County Fire

 PRECAUTIONARY EVACUATION ISSUED
The Zaca Fire has
moved east towards Highway 33 and has become established in the Dick
Smith Wilderness. This has prompted the Ventura County Sheriff to issue
a Precautionary Evacuation for residents along the west side of Highway
33 from the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line to Pine Mountain Summit
that began on Saturday, August 18th at 6:00 pm. 

Warnings and Orders

The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department and fire authorities have issued an “EVACUATION WARNING”
for East Camino Cielo Road from Gibraltar Road east to the Ventura
County Line including Gibraltar Reservoir and Jameson Lake effective August 17, 2007 8:00pm.

Residents of these areas should consider what they need to take and be prepared to leave
upon notice of the Sheriff’s Department, as they may not be able to
come back to retrieve personal items due to potentially rapidly
changing fire conditions. This “EVACUATION WARNING” is to alert
community members in the area of a potential threat to life and
property.  An evacuation order may follow as a result of the
threat. Please monitor your local public safety warning systems and
local radio and television news as conditions could rapidly change.

Although Hwy 154 is reopened, the public is encouraged to continue to take US 101 and stay off Hwy 154 unless absolutely necessary Please.
For those who do use Hwy 154, delays can be expected due to the reduced
speed limit and the continuous movement of slow-moving firefighting
vehicles. Visibility may be reduced as a result of smoke.


A EVACUATION WARNING
remains in effect for residents of the Paradise Road community, Los
Prietos Boys Camp, Paradise Store and the Rancho Oso Guest Ranch,
effective Sunday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. The Lower Santa Ynez River
Recreation Area campgrounds, day use areas and trailheads will remain
closed.



SMOKE AND ASH MAY BE VISIBLE OVER A WIDE AREA. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District have issued a health advisory. People who are at risk, including children and the elderly who are more susceptible to smoke may need to take precautions.

contingency lines connected...

Daytime
temperatures remained in the 90's today with extremely low relative
humidity causing a Red Flag Warning to be put in place. These weather
conditions are hindering burning operations. In the Live Oak Zone*
today the existing fire line held even though unfavorable winds caused
discontinuation of back firing operations. Firefighters are continuing
to hold the line at the Monte Arido Fuel Break and the Pendola Jeepway.
The fire was smoldering and creeping within the Caliente drainage with
little active fire spread today and is expected to progress very
little. Unburned islands of fuel continue to burnout in several of the
drainages. In the Richardson Zone today strong winds, high
temperatures, and extremely low humidity, in combination with
exceptionally dry, heavy fuels in alignment with the winds and slopes
again produced intense fire behavior. There has been increasing fire
activity in the Northwest as the fire continues to push in that
direction. Aggressive suppression action with air tankers, helicopters
and ground forces is ongoing along Hwy 33.
Today, the strategy was
to continue a backfire operation from Cuyama Peak Road in Dry Canyon
towards Highway 33 along with a backfire operation from Highway 33
north to Ozena. These backfire operations are intended to provide a
good secure line on the east perimeter of the fire in order to halt the
forward progress of the fire. Today firefighting in the southeastern
section of the Zaca Fire will continue along the Hildreth and Pendola
Jeepways as crews continue to ignite vegetation along the jeepways to
remove fuels between the fireline and the main fire. This firing
operation was expected to begin early in the morning and last as long
as weather conditions are favorable.

On the northwest perimeter, the fire is well established in Sweetwater
and Foresters Leap Canyons on the north rim of Sisquoc Canyon and
Incident Command is developing contingency plans for a backfire
operation along the Cottonwood Road on Sierra Madre Ridge.  Yesterday,
because of the extreme fire danger and concern for firefighters safety,
firefighters were pulled off the line on the northwest perimeter.

On the northeast perimeter, the fire continues to be active in the Dick
Smith Wilderness, one mile west of Highway 33. Firefighters are
conducting a backfire operation from Cuyama Peak Road in Dry Canyon
towards Highway 33 to remove the fuel in front of the fire.

Contingency lines have been connected and crews are now focusing their efforts on improving these lines. 

Today in the Live Oak Zone* to the south, firefighters continued to
patrol, mop-up, and improve the existing control lines in several
areas, including the Santa Barbara front country from Romero Canyon to
Lake Casitas. In the Richardson Zone they will also continued their
burnout operations from the Pine Mountain summit to Ozena.

Firefighting
conditions were very dangerous yesterday in several areas. Strong
winds, high temperatures, low, low humidity and the blazing hot sun all
combined and increased the intensity of the fire as it pushed up slopes
and canyons, especially when they aligned with the wind. Flame lengths
again yesterday exceed 100 ft. in spots, as the fire consumed the the
thick bed of heavy brush.

In the Richardson
Zone* the fire is still trying to push itself to the east and
northwest. Firing operations have kept the fire north of the Ogilvy
Ranch road.
In the Ventura Zone* firefighters are gaining access
through private lands as they prepare contingency lines and will
continue to improve the existing fuel breaks, safety zones and
interconnect the existing fuel breaks as needed.

Good progress is being made in the effort to secure the fireline around
the remaining southeastern fire perimeter. Reinforcement of the old
fuel breaks in the front country above Montecito and Carpenteria are
expected to be completed in the near future.
A good secure fireline is in place from Potrero Seco Ranch
to Hildreth Jeep trail on the westside of the Matilija Wilderness.
Warmer and drier weather forecasted through Tuesday evening will
challenge fire fighting efforts to complete the firelines.

When the winds have been favorable, firefighters have made great progress with their backfiring operations.

Firefighters expected that increasing fire activity through out the day
yesterday would try to push the fire northwest of Potrero Seco and
eastward into Ventura County.

In the Live Oak Zone* backfiring operations kept the fire north of the
Ogilvy Ranch road yesterday while major runs were observed in Diablo
Canyon when the winds aligned with the Canyon.

The
fire has burned intensely throughout the evening in areas within the
southern divisions. The fire made a hard push towards the junction of
Pendola Road and Monte Arido Road continuing to threaten the Mantilla
Wilderness. Heavy smoke conditions in the afternoons have continued to
hamper the visibility for firefighters and aircraft.
Over a dozen contingency lines and fuelbreaks have been
completed and improvements are still being performed, including the
fuelbreaks that run west to east from Romero Canyon to Lake Casitas.
These lines will also provide firefighters with the backup options that
may be needed in the event of changing conditions. In the Live Oak Zone
firefighters are performing backfiring operations so they may may bring
the fire south into better terrain. Commanders between the zones are
coordinating their backfire operations very closely as they try to
wrangle the fire into a more defendable situation.

Inaccessibility is still requiring crews and equipment to be shuttled
in by helicopter and the heavy smoke has not only hampered the ground
attack on the fire but it has impeded air operations as well.
Firefighting resources staged at the Ventura County Fairgrounds are
creating and reopening fuelbreaks, clearing roads, and providing
structure protection. The firefighters will also be available should
they be needed for initial attack for Ventura County and the Los Padres
National Forest.

Containment has increased is estimated at 77%.

The size of the fire is now 215,692 acres.
It has been estimated that the fire will consume 236,000 acres before
it is through. The last estimated cost was at 87.4 million dollars.
Over 3,162 personnel are currently working on this fire.
*Incident
Command has now divided the fire into 3 closely coordinated zones. The
northern portion will be the Richardson Zone" and the southern portion
will be the "Live Oak Zone" and the Ventura Zone to the east.

Closures

Highway 33 between Pine Mountain Summit to Ozena has been closed except to local traffic only.

Beginning
at 10:00 am on Sunday, August 19th , this section of Hwy 33 will be
closed to all traffic, including residents. The closure is required to
safely conduct a backfire operation planned along Highway 33 from the
Pine Mountain Road to Ozena. Travelers on Hwy 33 will continue be
impacted while firefighters conduct firing and supression operations
and to secure the firelines on the eastern perimeter of the fire.

All or portions of Highway 33 between Ojai and Cuyama may close at any
time due to changing fire and weather conditions. When conditions
warrant, the Highway will be closed by authorities until it can safely
be reopened to thru traffic. Closures may change at any time.

Happy Canyon Road is closed at the Los Padres NF boundary.

Figueroa Mountain Road is closed at the Los Padres NF 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.



Additional areas in Los Padres National Forest
are now closed due to the Zaca Fire emergency. This is due to the
difficulty of evacuating forest visitors from remote areas should the
fire spread and concerns for the firefighters while they build
contingency lines several miles from the active fire. The closure now
affects approximately 888,000 acres.

Zaca Fire...Additional Information

If you need more information please call the Zaca Fire Information Line at 805-961-5770 for current conditions.

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/

El publico tambien puede escuchar noticias por radio.

KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7; KRAZ-105.9 y KIST-107.7

Vulnerable Populations:

individuals with special needs who may be unable to evacuate without
help and those who need medical equipment that require electricity.

please call (805) 968-0462 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The Red Cross shelter:

Dos Pueblos High School, 7266 Alameda Avenue in Goleta.

Red Cross personnel continue to be available by phone 24/7 at: 805-896-2980.

Animal/Pet Shelter Locations please call the...

Animal Hotline 805-681-4332.



Information kiosk locations have been established
which will provide current Zaca Fire press releases, updates, maps and
other relevant information. The following locations will be updated
with key information daily:

Santa Barbara:

The Mission (2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara)

City Hall (735 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara)

Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu

Franklin Center, 1136 E. Montecito

Westside Center, 423 W. Victoria

Lazy Acres Market (302 Meigs Road, Santa Barbara



Goleta:

City Hall (130 Cremona Dr. Suite B)

Camino Real Market Place Theatre (7040 Marketplace Dr.)

Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Ave.)

Santa Barbara County:

Tucker’s Grove Park – Entrance (Turnpike Rd. and Cathedral Oaks Rd.)

Magnolia Center - 5130 Hollister Ave.

Turnpike Center @ Hollister Road (163 S. Turnpike, Goleta)

Calle Real Center by Trader Joes (5767 Calle Real, Goleta)

Java Station on Hollister @ Modoc (4447 Hollister Ave.)

County Administration Building (105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara)



Carpinteria/Summerland/Montecito:

Montecito South Village at East Valley and San Ysidro Roads

Cold Springs School, 2243 Sycamore Canyon

Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue

Summerland Post Office (corner of Lillie and Evans Avenues)



Additional information can also be found on the web at ...

Inciweb Incident Information System website at: 

http://inciweb.org/incident/770/

Inciweb also provides maps, photos and a RSS feed providing news and announcements on the fire.



Los Padres National Forest website at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/

County of Santa Barbara Online at:

http://www.countyofsb.org/

Broadcast Information

Radio Stations:

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.



TV:

Santa Barbara County's Channel 20

City of Santa Barbara, Channel 18

City of Goleta at Channel 19

For those who may have been unable to attend the community meetings you can view the videos at:

http://www.countyofsb.org/index.asp