Zaca Fire Contained

California's Second Largest Modern Fire, Contained on Sunday, Sept 2nd.

The Zaca Fire is now 100 percent contained, two days earlier from the expected date. But fire officials still urge you to protect your home during this dry season.
Firefighters will continue to mop-up and patrol firelines along the perimeter of the fire. Aircraft using infra red photography will assist in identifying potential remaining hot spots.

Continuing hot and dry weather will increase the potential for fire activity in unburned vegetation within the fires perimeter. Temperatures are expected to be over 100 degrees with low relative humidity.
The final cost of the fire is over $117 million. There have been 38 injuries. The two men being charged with igniting the fire are scheduled to appear in court on the 20th of September.

KEY News reporter Regina Ruiz has more on the finality of this massive fire.

Here's road information and closures;
The public is reminded to use extreme caution in and around the fire area especially in the area of East Camino Cielo between Highway 154 and Gibraltar Road, as fire crews continue to work in this area.

Highways, Forest Roads and Area Closures:
•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 open between Hwy 154 and Gibraltar Road.
•East Camino Cielo is closed east of Gibraltar Road.
•The Zaca Fire Area Closure in Los Padres National Forest remains in effect. Detailed information regarding the closure is available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres or www.inciweb.org or at offices of the Los Padres National Forest.
•Paradise Road is open from Highway 154 to the first crossing of the Santa Ynez River. All U.S. Forest Service recreation facilities along Paradise Road (with the exception of First Crossing Day Use Area) and Rancho Oso are open. Santa Ynez River Road and all recreation facilities past the first crossing of the Santa Ynez River are closed.

Lonely Fire Map

Scorched Mountains

Pulling Out Equipment

Late August.

Zaca Fire Update, keyt.com

The Zaca Wildfire now stands at 171, 750 acres and it's 65% contained. Saturday, firing operations will continue on the Pendola Jeepway Road from the Monte Arido Fuel Break.

Fire officials will hold a public meeting on Sunday at 2pm at the Matilija Jr. High School to update Ojai residents and other nearby communities on the status of the Zaca Wildfire.

Smoke and ash from the fire will continue to affect the Santa Barbara area, especially during the evening and late night to morning hours. People sensitive to smoke and particulates should limit time spent outdoors and minimize physical exertion.


On the northern fire perimeter, firefighters have completed 20 miles of backfiring to remove vegetation between the indirect fireline and the active portion of the fire in Sisquoc, Cliff and Sweetwater Canyons. The active fire on the east perimeter is still 20 miles from Ojai and is burning within the indirect fire established to contain this fire.

In the Santa Barbara front country, efforts are underway to improve historic fuel brakes around Romero Canyon as a precaution. Recreation activity on the Romero Canyon trail is not advised.

Hwy 33 between Wheeler Gorge and Ventucopa is closed except to local traffic only. The closure is the result of smoke and a possible backfiring operation along Hwy 33. The Highway will be closed until it can safely be reopened to through traffic.

Smoke Cloud Rises Friday

East Camino Cielo Rd

East Camino Cielo is CLOSED.

Signs

Painted Cave Road is CLOSED.

Sunrise 8/15

This is the first of many smoky sunrises. For several days and nights, the smoke from the fire came south and covered the sky. Thursday, 8/16, the outside air was impossible to breath.

Painted Cave Park gets Trimmed and Chipped

Zaca Fire Statistics, from KEYT.com

Saturday Update: Zaca Fire Burns More Than 81,000 Acres

The Zaca Fire that's been burning for 37 days is now 81,795 acres and 68% contained as of Saturday. A reminder the evacuation order for the Peachtree community has been lifted. An evacuation order for Paradise Road and Lower Santa Ynez River Road to Gibraltar Dam remains in effect.

Also, a reminder to drivers Highway 154 is back open, but due to fire equipment in the area commuters are being advised to take other routes if possible. Due to the heavy volume of firefighting vehicles, the speed limit on Highway 154 has been reduced to 45 miles per hour.

Starting Monday residents can expect to see a lot more smoke once again, that's due to more back fires that will be set at the Zaca Fire.

The cost of fighting the fire has grown to $61 million. Fire officials hope to have the Zaca Fire fully contained by September 7th.

Friday

We've been worrying about fire for over a week now. Personally, my worrier is burned out, but the fire still goes. The chipping crew started early this morning and chipped all the piles on Glenn Rd. Thanks. Otherwise, activity in the neighborhood seemed to slow. Highway 154 is open now, but with 45 mph max. Cold Springs Tavern has be de-foiled. Several times today, big columns of smoke rose into the air. I'm guessing, since I didn't go to the meeting tonight, but lines must be holding, winds shifting, and the fire is headed away or past Painted Cave. I hope so.

From Gibralter Rd, Friday Noon

Photos by Bob Umels

Smoke Cloud over Santa Barbara

The biggest yet smoke cloud hangs over Santa Barbara Thursday night.

BLM trucks add a new color

Fire Crews from all over California

Fire Crews from all over California have helped. Hayward, Redding, Whiskeytown, Hot Springs, Ventura, and the list goes on. Thanks for visiting.

Cold Springs Tavern is Wrapped

Link to Cold Springs Tavern story.

Painted Cave State Park

The Cave and signs are wrapped with heavy aluminum foil to reflect heat and prevent smoke damage.

And More Chipping

Several chippers roam the area looking for brush piles to consume.

More Sawing

Firebombers

I'm happy to post a few firebomber photos that my friend Phil L has sent me. Apparently, the firebombers are now based out of Santa Maria. Here are 20, 74, and 09.

Wednesday Eve Briefing

Sounds like good news.

PCVFD Engine

Brush Crews helping in the Neighborhood

Fire from Space, Image by NASA

Click for Image

Tuesday Meeting at the Firehouse

Sounds like things are going well, but anything could happen. We should all continue to prepare.

Tuesday

Sunny this morning in Painted Cave, but the marine layer lingered all day. Humidity high and temperatures low. No smoke visible to the north until about 4 PM when there was a big flare up and the brown cloud of smoke in the picture below developed. I understand fire crews are preparing at the Santa Ynez River. All-in-all, a slow day in the neighborhood. We have a community briefing at 6:30.

Big smoke cloud drifting south.

Tuesday from the overlook

Chipping

A crew chipping cutting on East Camino Cielo.

Monday Night Worries

I got a little nervous. The wind is blowing a good bit and I could smell smoke. Good news it is chilly, thermometer says 55F. So I took a ride down to the lookout where the Thursday night picture was taken, see the first posting. Here is a picture from the same spot. There is one little light on the ridge. Must be a truck or such. Sky is dark and the stars are out.

Monday Night

From the pull out on East Camino Cielo looking north. No visible flames.

Monday Evening Update

Local Fire Chief Kevin explains the map and possibilities to neighbors. Air is cool tonight, but the wind is picking up. Smoke can be seen, sort of, left center in sky. Weather may warm and winds change direction in days to come. CDF was not happy about width of our roads and lack of clearing. We are not out of the woods yet. Besides, it is only the beginning of August.

Kibitzing, Neighbors and Fire Personel

Monday Noon

Monday brought more cool weather. Although we could smell smoke Sunday night, ash did not fall and the sky was clear as I went to bed. Monday morning was quiet and the fog was back, cooler, and thicker. Even now at 2:15 PM, the marine layer persists here at The Cave. I haven't seen any dozers or brush cutting today. The column of smoke is lower, smaller. Crews and community are relaxed. I'd say the general belief is that the fire will be contained or pass us by.

Monday Noon, still trucks in the neighborhood

The Fire Map

Communications Meeting Place

Fire map at the mail boxes.

Monday noon, different trucks

Painted Cave Rd and East Camino Cielo. Smoke cloud is very small.

Waiting On Sunday

Painted Cave Rd and East Camino Cielo. The CDF circles the wagons. Note the smoke cloud.

...And No Welding

Still Burning Sunday Afternoon

Parking Problems in Painted Cave

Fire Engines fill the Painted Cave as they learn the roads and prepare.

Saturday, from East Camino Cielo above the Knapp

Northwest

North

Northeast


East

Saturday Morning

Pretty Calm. Northerly wind is gone.

Zaca Lake Fire, Friday

On Friday the wind and smoke came towards us. Heavy ash fell in Painted Cave.

Zaca Fire on the Ridge Thursday Night

The scene that greeted me as I got home from holiday. Taken at the pull-out on East Camino Cielo.