Ranch Fire Information Update - October 23, 2007 at 9am
Incident: Ranch Wildland Fire
Released: 10/23/2007
Fire Name: Ranch Fire
Date and Time of Fire Start: October 20, 2007 - 9:42 p.m.
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 54,518 acres
Location: Northwest of Castaic / Northeast of Piru
Angeles National Forest, Santa Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District
The Ranch Fire has reached Interstate 5 near the Templin Highway. The eastern flank of the fire from Townsend Peak south into Romero Canyon challenged firefighters last night. Dozer lines constructed during the day Monday were overrun last night. Today crews and dozers will work to reestablish control lines in the Violin Canyon area. Fire crews were successful protecting structures in the Romero Canyon, Sloan Canyon, Hasley Canyon and Val Verde areas. As the fire backed into these neighborhoods, fire engine crews lit backfires and extinguished threats to structures.
Today crews will continue structure protection efforts, improving control lines, and mopping up. The southern edge of the fire along Highway 126 pushed westward one to three miles north of the highway. The fire burned through the Hopper Mountain Wildlife Refuge, no structures were damaged. The fire will burn slowly toward Highway 126 today. Fire engine crews will protect structures as necessary. Contingency control lines constructed during the Day Fire will be used as the fire advances westward. The northern edge of the fire is burning into the Day fire area and is a low priority for firefighters.
Road Closures: Highway 126
Old Highway 99 (at Templin Highway)
Containment: 10%
Vegetation: Heavy Brush and Chaparral (4-8 ft. high); grasses; oak woodland. Chaparral is approximately 40 years-old
Cause: Under Investigation
Weather Conditions: Winds at 21-38 m.p.h. from the East-Southeast; Relative Humidity - 8%
Evacuations: Chiquito Canyon, Hasley Canyon, Val Verde, Hopper Canyon, and toward Fillmore
Evacuation Centers: Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building; 511 2nd St.; Fillmore, CA
Livestock: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 866-387-8911
Small Animals: Camarillo Animal Shelter 805-388-4343 ext. 9
Fire Behavior: Erratic fire behavior, driven by extreme winds. Fire is burning in a south-southwesterly direction away from I-5. Fire was very active overnight, including large, wind-driven runs and long distance spotting.
Agency Jurisdiction: U. S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest; Ventura County and Los Angeles County
Agencies Involved: U.S. Forest Service; Ventura County Fire Department; Ventura County Sheriff's Department; Los Angeles County Fire Dept; California Highway Patrol; Cal Fire; Los Angeles County Animal Control; Cal-Trans; Governor's Office of Emergency Services; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Red Cross
Incident Commander: Jeanne Pincha-Tulley
Equipment and Personnel: 767 personnel are assigned to the fire: 66 Engines; 16 hand crews; 3 Helitankers, 4 Helicopters, 7 bulldozers, 18 Water Tenders
Threats:
- Communities of Val Verde, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, Ventura, and Ojai
- California Condor Habitat; Condor Sanctuary, Sespe Wilderness
- Ventura River and Santa Clara River Watersheds
- Hopper Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, Petroleum Fields
Structures Destroyed: 3 residences, 4 outbuildings, 14 boats in storage yard
Injuries: None
Additional Information:
