August 20 Morning Update
Incident: La Brea Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/20/2009
La Brea Fire Information
August 20 Morning Update
Los Padres National Forest
California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 / CAL FIRE
Jeanne Pincha-Tulley / S. Heil / M. Schmitt, Incident Commanders
Acres: 89,368 Personnel: 1,520 Containment: 94%
Start Date: Aug. 8, 2009
For more Information: www.inciweb.org or call (805) 961-5770
Continued good progress was made by firefighters yesterday as they inched forward to complete firelines in the San Rafael Wilderness portion of the La Brea Fire. Hotshot crews continue to make good progress on the estimated 10 miles of fireline yet to be completed. In the afternoon, hot temperatures increased the intensity of the fire in portions of the wilderness, but air tankers and helicopters helped to check its spread. Most of the crews stayed overnight near the site to continue work in that area today. Mop up of hot spots 300 feet into the fire is continuing in many areas, and those involved are finding fewer and fewer hot spots.
Interior smoke and some flare-ups continue well inside portions of the burned area, which do not pose any serious threat of crossing the containment lines. Firefighters monitor these interior flare-ups and usually do not take any suppression action on them since it is not needed.
The last evacuation warning was lifted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office late yesterday for the area bound by the Sierra Madre Road, Highway 166, Cottonwood Canyon and Spoor Canyon. There are currently no evacuation notices in effect anywhere around the fire.
Fireline being built in the wilderness is being done using minimal impact suppression tactics (known as MIST) in combination with a high use of aerial support as the fire intensifies, usually during the afternoon periods.
Suppression line rehabilitation continues on the colder portions of the fire, generally in the west, north and south flanks. Dozers are building water bars, which are small depressions perpendicular to the slopes that will slow water and reduce erosion when the rains return. They also level berms, and do other work as necessary to lessen impacts on the now barren soil when rainfall begins.
Weather: The forecast is much the same as the past several days with temperatures in the 90s. Under these conditions, the fire becomes most active between 11 a.m to midnight.
Caution: Due to slow moving emergency vehicle traffic on Highway 166, the public is urged to use extra caution.
Fire Investigation Tip Line: If you have any information regarding the La Brea Fire, please contact Forest Service Fire Investigators at 805-686-5074.
Closures: An emergency closure order is in effect for portions of the Los Padres National Forest in and around the fire. For more information, see http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/ or http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1803/.
Resources: Engines: 50 Crews: 49 Dozers: 16 Water Tenders: 60 Helicopters: 11 Fixed Wing: 5 available
