ARES Members Help California Firefighters

From  The ARRL Letter Vol. 26, No. 28 July 13, 2007

==> ARES Members Serve Firefighting Efforts in California

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members are assisting firefighters on the Zaca Fire, in Los Padres National Forest. More than 6500 acres of the forest are affected. The forest stretches across almost 220 miles from the Big Sur Coast in Monterey County to the western edge of Los Angeles County. ARES members from Santa Maria, in Santa Barbara County, are staffing roadblocks at the intersection of Figueroa Mountain Road and SR 154 and at the intersection of Happy Cyn and Baseline Roads. The roadblocks were established at the request of Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The fire, which began July 4, is believed to be human caused, according to the US Forest Service. As of now, it is 37 percent contained. The fire has now burned into the San Rafael wilderness, with the north flank of the fire currently burning in heavy, 40 year old fuels with a high dead to live ratio. Fuel moisture levels are extremely low and at a point that is usually not seen until late summer. Humidity is high, hovering at around 78 percent.

According to Donna Tooth of the US Forest Service, the fire is continuing to back down to the Sisquoc River. Plans are in the works to contain this portion of the fire, preventing it from spreading into areas that have not been burned since 1966. On its eastern side, the fire is burning along the Manzana Creek and has hit a portion of the Marre Fire of 1993. Firefighters are taking advantage of the younger vegetation and are attempting to "turn the corner" by applying direct line construction techniques. Firefighters are holding the fire on the north side of the San Rafael Ridge, south of the Sisquoc River and east of School House Canyon. The fire is threatening the Cody Cabin and the historic Manzana School House.

Fire commanders say the fire could grow significantly larger in the next 12-24 hours, and project containment will require 14 days or more.