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.
