New evacuations ordered for La Brea fire

Small brush fire breaks out near Santa Maria

By COLBY FRAZIER — Aug. 13, 2009

Update: Aug. 13, 2:58 p.m. — Crews are handling a brush fire burning near Highway 101 and Palmer Road that has grown to approximately 25 acres since 1:20 p.m. Fire officials said no structures are threatened and fire personnel on scene are confident they will be able to contain the blaze.

County Fire Capt. David Sadecki also addressed concerns that a reported missile launch might suspend air operations for the La Brea fire, noting that Vandenburg Air Force Base officials have confirmed they are not planning a missile launch. The air base is checking with the U.S. Navy to address unconfirmed reports of a cruise missile launch that might affect firefighting efforts from the air, Sadecki said.

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Update: Aug. 13, 12:35 p.m. — Effective immediately, residents in all of Tepusquet, Colson and Ruiz canyons are being ordered to leave their homes due to the La Brea fire. The closed areas include Tepusquet Canyon from Santa Maria Mesa Road to Highway 166 and Colson Canyon including the Blazing Saddles community.

Authorities are estimating the new evacuation order affects approximately 150 homes and ranches. Evacuees are being sheltered by the Red Cross at New Cuyama High School, while large animals are being directed to the Santa Maria Fair Park.

All previous evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect, fire officials said.

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Another day of dry, hot conditions yesterday stifled firefighters’ efforts to get a handle on the La Brea fire, which officials said grew to 29,480 acres.

While the fire continued to consume areas choked with chaparral that haven’t burned for over 80 years, officials said it had eased its grip on the northeastern flank near Cottonwood Canyon, where 14 residences were evacuated on Tuesday.

Though none of the evacuated individuals were allowed to return, Joe Pasinato, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said it was contemplated.

He said a mandatory evacuation remains in effect for these residents and an evacuation warning is in place for 114 residences.

“It was definitely active again today on pretty much all fronts,” Pasinato said.

The blaze, which erupted on Aug. 8 and has cost an estimated $5.3 million to fight, has scorched a large swath of remote land in the Los Padres National Forest.

Despite its five-day romp through the forest, the La Brea fire has remained a safe distance of 15 miles from New Cuyama, the closest area with a sizeable population.

On Tuesday night, Pasinato said a burnout operation on the fire’s northern flank helped beat back the blaze, which with the high winds, appeared to blow back upon itself. He said the fire remains 10 percent contained.

Pasinato said the notion that the Forest Service should allow the fire to burn its way through the forest unhindered, as is the case with some incidents in other parts of the country, isn’t a wise approach in this area. He said the policy in the Los Padres National Forest has been to suppress wildfire for good reason.

“We have the urban interface here which tends to escalate here a little more every year,” he said. “I think if we were to let fire go here, if you will, it would certainly get to the point where we wouldn’t be able to stop it if we wanted to stop it … We would see tremendous loss of structures.”

Pasinato pointed out that when feasible, the Forest Service conducts prescribed burns in the forest to thin vegetation.

Using a map, Pasinato guessed the La Brea fire is about five miles from the nearest flank of the 2008 Zaca fire, which charred 240,207 acres of the backcountry.

As of last night, he said 1,641 people were assigned to the fire, as were 10 helicopters, five fixed-wing aircraft, 89 engines, 28 bulldozers and 29 water tenders.

Weather conditions have remained perfect for wildfire, with temperatures hovering in the 90s and humidity levels in the low teens. Pasinato said these conditions are expected to remain through the end of the week, with slightly cooler weather in the forecast for the weekend.

A Red Cross emergency shelter initially set up in the township of Sisquoc was moved yesterday to Cuyama Valley High School, 4500 Highway 166, in New Cuyama.

Investigators looking into the cause of the fire announced yesterday they are seeking information about a tan or gold Chevrolet van last seen near Sierra Madre Road the afternoon the blaze began. Anyone with information about the van, or the origin of the fire, should call 686-5074.

Maps of the fire area are available at www.countyofsb.org/ceo/fire.aspx or www.inciweb.org/incident/1803.

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Why no map? : 8/13/2009

Please, every time you talk about a fire, and especially if you reference a map in the text, INCLUDE A PICTURE OF THE MAP. All I want to know is where the fire *is*.

MJG

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La Brea fire : 8/13/2009

Please include a fire map, thanks

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Just Once : 8/13/2009

Just once I'd like to make it through a Summer without a fire here in SB county.

CManSb

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