On day eight of the La Brea Fire, fire managers are feeling cautiously optimistic. The fire is now 25% contained after long days of fire line construction and burning operations in several geographical areas along the fire perimeter. This is significant considering the rapid growth of the fire and the recent history of fire events on the Los Padres National Forest. Hard work and long hours by firefighters utilizing aircraft, bulldozers, engines, and handcrews is paying off. This type of progress is difficult without a significant favorable change in weather conditions or without the fire behavior becoming less menacing and easier to manage. In the past 24 hours, the fire behavior has continued to be aggressive, but due to the hard work of the men and women on the fireline, good progress has been made. Firefighters continue to battle not only the fire, but the elements, fatigue, and challenging terrain to gain the upper hand on the La Brea Fire. A major effort to improve existing containment perimeter using dozers and burning out remaining brush will be made today. This should close the gaps that exist on the west side. Substantial progress has been made from the northwest area beginning at Buckhorn Canyon, running southeast to Horse Canyon. The majority of this line is in and holding. Fire engines remain in place along Tepusquet Road to protect structures if the fire should jump the fuel break. The north line will be improved and mopped up today as crews work to hold the fireline along the Treplett fuel break. The completion of the Schoolhouse Canyon dozer line is a high priority on the east end up to Sierra Madre Ridge Road and should be finished today. The challenge remains on the southeast portion of the burn in the San Rafael Wilderness because of the lack of acceptable ridgelines or solid points to build containment line. Fixed wing aircraft and three helibases are supporting the fire, one at Santa Ynez Airport, one at Santa Maria Airport, and a supply helibase at the Incident Command Post. A retardant base is located at Spanish Ranch in Cuyama Valley. Structure protection will continue in the Tepusquet and Pine Canyon areas, and along Foothill Road in Cuyama Valley. An evacuation order is in effect for all of Tepusquet Canyon, from Santa Maria Mesa Road to Highway 166, all of Colson and Ruiz Canyons, and the Blazing Saddles community Pine and Buckhorn Canyons, along Forest Roads 11N04 and 11N05, affecting 10 residences. An additional evacuation order issued is in effect for the following areas: Western Boundary: Sierra Madre Road; Southern Boundary: Cottonwood Road; Eastern Boundary: Highway 166; Northern Boundary: Spoor Canyon. This area includes Moon and Eckert Canyons. An Evacuation Warning exists for areas bound by Cottonwood Road and Wasioja Road, and between Highway 166 and Sierra Madre Road. The New Cuyama High School and Benjamin Foxen Elementary School are currently the designated temporary emergency shelter staffed by the Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross. If you need assistance with the evacuation and sheltering of animals, please contact the animal hotline at 681-4332. Weather for today will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the lower elevations of 88 - 98 and 80 - 88 on the ridgetops. Ridgetop winds will be north to northeast at 10 - 18 mph in the afternoon with gusts to 20 mph. Tonoght will be mostly clear with lows of 54 - 60 in the lower elevations and 60 - 70 on the ridges. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php CityName=Santa+Maria&state=CA&site=LOX&textField1=34.821&textField2=-120.41 Due to emergency vehicle traffic and congestion on Highway 166, the public is urged to seek an alternate route and to use extra caution when traveling the highway. A well attended community meeting was held tonight at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School in Sisquoc. Speakers included both incident commanders, local sheriff and local fire department representatives. The Fire Investigation Team is asking for the public's assistance to help establish the cause of the La Brea Fire. If you have any information regarding the La Brea please contact Forest Service Fire Investigators at 805-686-5074. Investigators have spoken to witnesses, but are still seeking additional information that may assist with the ongoing investigation. The emergency closure order is still in effect for portions of the Los Padres National Forest in and around the fire. For more information, please contact Fire Information at (805) 961-5770 from 6am-10pm Temporary flight restrictions have been put in place over the fire and surrounding area. http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr map ims/html/cc/scale2/tile 1 2.html Engines: 108 Crews: 59 Dozers: 25 Helicopters: 14 Watertenders: 38 Total personnel: 1980
