Progression
The fire started as a small vegetation fire on July 5, at around 3:48 p.m, near Zaca Lake. The fire grew rapidly through grass and brush during a prolonged heat wave across the west coast. Road closures accompanied the firefighting response on the same day. [1] By July 8, the fire had grown to 20,320 acres, and 1,162 personnel were assigned to firing operations. [1] On the morning of July 9, the fire had again grown, covering 26,176 acres and reaching 12% containment. [2] The east side of the fire was noted as having the highest rate of activity. [2] Evacuation orders were placed for parts of the Figueroa Mountain, and an evacuation warning was issued for the Goat Rock area. [2]
On July 10, the fire had reached 28,987 acres in size, [3] and an estimated 1,500 people were evacuated from areas near the fire. Containment reached 16% on the same day. [3] On July 11, the fire covered 34,015 acres of grass and brush, and was split into a North Zone (A) and South Zone (B). The fire in the North Zone straddled Happy Canyon Road, but never crossed it due to counter-fire efforts from firefighters. [4]
By July 12, the fire covered 36,707 acres and remained at 16% containment. [5] 3,411 personnel were assigned to the fire. [5] The fire began to slowly move down the Sisquoc River, and continued moving through areas near Davey Brown.The Goat Rock area also reminded threatened by the fire. [5] On July 13, the fire continued to be active in the Davey Brown, Ranger Peak and Goat Rock areas, [6] and covered 37,472 acres by 10:00 p.m. the same day. [6] [7] Containment on the fire reached 19% around the same time. [6]
On July 14, the fire had grown slightly, covering 37,872 acres and retaining 19% containment. [8] The fire made small pushes uphill in the South Zone. [8] On July 15, the fire had reached 38,430 acres, [9] a slight increase from the previous day. Containment on the fire jumped to 34%, [9] and the number of personnel assigned to the fire also increased to 3,546. [9] In the North Zone, firefighters continued to patrol the fire edge located on the Sisquoc River, [9] and Happy Canyon Road continued to be encroached by the fire. [9]
On July 16, the fire had again gained slightly in acreage, reaching 38,653 acres by 8:40 a.m. and containment reaching 38% around the same time. [10] Fire crews were transported via helicopter to the remote areas of the Zaca Ridge located in the North Zone, where the fire was actively burning. [10] Forest Route 10N06 was closed as a result of the fire. [10] By July 17, the fire only gained 10 acres, [11] covering 38,663 acres by 10 a.m. the same day. [11] The number of personnel assigned to the fire also lowered, with 3,247 personnel responding to the fire. [11] Firefighters along the southeast perimeter of the fire began to prioritize the destruction of smoldering ash and embers left by the fire. [11]
By July 18, the fire had stayed within its original footprint, gaining no acreage. [12] Containment on the fire had almost doubled from July 16, with 63% of the fire contained. [12] On July 19, firefighters made further progress on containment of the fire, with 73% contained. [13] California Complex Incident Management Team 2 (CA-CIMT2) also took command of the fire, [13] and an unmanned aerial system was used to locate smoldering ash and other potentially ignited material. [13]
On July 20, containment and acreage of the fire remained consistent with previous days, [14] but the number of personnel assigned to the fire again dropped to 2,055. [14] Fire crews continued constructing fire lines in the northern portions of the fire. [14] On July 21, the fire had gained 1 acre, and the North and South Zones were dissolved, merging back into one larger complex. Fire crews searched for potential unburned fuel on the eastern portions of the fire. [15] The eastern part of Zaca Lake Road, Forest Route 10N06 and Happy Canyon Road remained closed due to the fire. [15]
By July 22, the fire had been 90% contained, [16] and the number of personnel assigned to the fire lowered to 1,614. [16] Fire crews prioritized the extinguishing of hot spots, with the aid of aerial vehicles, including a helicopter. [16] Many roads remained closed as a result of the fire, [16] and fire crews also began to haul equipment away from the immediate perimeter of the fire. [16] On July 23, the number of personnel responding to the fire again lowered to 995, [17] and containment on the fire remained at 90%. [17]
On July 24, all evacuation orders related to the fire were cancelled, but the Los Padres National Forest remained closed. [18] Fire suppression and repair was prioritized by the remaining 909 personnel. [18] Crews also worked to the south of the historic Manzana School House to the fire perimeter. [18] Along the southern perimeter of the fire, suppression repair was around 95% complete. [18]
On July 25, the number of personnel responding to the fire lowered to 746, [19] and the remaining fire crews worked with suppression repair. [19] Inflicting minimal environmental damage as a result of fire suppression was also prioritized. [19] By July 26, fire crews worked to minimize soil erosion from the fire suppression efforts. [20] Fire crews also continued observing the fire edge and perimeters, to prevent any potential flare-ups of material. [20] The Los Padres National Forest closure notice was not lifted, and the area remained closed to the public as a result of the fire. [20] At 7:00 a.m. on July 27, [21] command over the fire was handed off to a Type 3 Incident Management Team from the Los Padres National Forest. [21]
On August 4, the fire was declared 100% contained. [22] [23]
