Gap Fire
Location: 8 mi N of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., CA
Specific Location: West Camino Cielo area, 4 miles W of State Highway 154 and 3.5 miles N of Goleta, in the Los Padres National Forest.
Date of Origin: 07/01/08
Cause: human
Situation as of 07/14/08 4:00 PM
Total Personnel: 489
Size: 9,443 acres
Percent Contained: 90%
Costs to Date: $20,400,000
Fire behavior inactive, mostly smoldering in isolated spots. Last night’s IR identified 6 hot spots near the perimeter of the Division Yankee and Zulu. A palm IR flight was flown this afternoon to locate additional heat. A helicopter with IR capabilities has been ordered.
The Gap ICP is moving to the San Marcos Work Center and fire management will transfer to a Type III organization (Unkovich).
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Situation as of 07/13/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 617
Size: 9,443 acres
Percent Contained: 90%
Costs to Date: $19,750,000
Last night’s IR had clear skies over the fire area and identified 19 hot spots near the perimeter of the Division Yankee/Zulu break and several locations in Division Zulu. The remainder of the fire no hot spots were found.
Downsizing of resources continues for transition to a type III team organization 7/15/08 at 0800.
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Situation as of 07/12/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 889
Size: 9,443 acres
Percent Contained: 85%
Costs to Date: $18,400,000
Twenty Five personnel were treated in camp today for mild to severe Poison Oak. The jump in cost is related to aircraft costs not previously available.
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Situation as of 07/11/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 1,110
Size: 9,443 acres
Percent Contained: 80%
Costs to Date: $16,150,000
Structures Threatened: 85 PRIM , 60 OUTB Structures Destroyed: 4 OUTB
Fire behavior fairly inactive. Occasional open flame, mostly smoldering in isolated spots throughout the fire area.
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Situation as of 07/10/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 1,173
Size: 9,443 acres
Percent Contained: 70%
Costs to Date: $15,100,000
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Situation as of 07/09/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 1,387
Size: 9,400 acres
Percent Contained: 55%
Costs to Date: $12,600,000
The acreage was adjusted to 9400 acres today due to improved mapping.
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Situation as of 07/08/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 1,128
Size: 9,785 acres
Percent Contained: 55%
Costs to Date: $12,600,000
The Mandatory Evacuation Order for the following areas has been reduced to a warning: Trout Club Kinevan Road area, West Camino Cielo to the Windermere Ranch, Haney Track and Hidden Valley. All residents of these areas may return to their homes.
Mandatory Evacuation Orders are still in effect for: West Camino Cielo west of the Windermere Ranch to the actual fire area.
All previous evacuation warnings remain in effect including the Painted Cave area, Goleta area west of Winchester Canyon to Dos Pueblos Canyon, Eagle Canyon, Tecolote Canyon, Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos Ranches.
Fire burned active above the inversion. A crown run of 1/4 mile occurred under the power lines in Div A around 10:00 shutting off power in the area. The fire continued to make slow uphill progress in Tecolote Canyon. Group tree torching and short crown runs observed.
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Situation as of 07/07/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 1,310
Size: 9,600 acres
Percent Contained: 35%
Costs to Date: $9,300,000
An evacuation warning has been lifted for the Goleta Valley area north of Cathedral Oaks from Winchester Canyon east to SR 154. Mandatory evacuation orders are still in effect for: Kinevan Road area, West Camino Cielo to the Windermere Ranch, Haney Track, Hidden Valley and the Trout Club. An evacuation warning remains in effect for all residents in the Painted Cave area, Goleta area west of Winchester Canyon to Dos Pueblos Canyon including: Eagle Canyon, Tecolote Canyon, Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos Ranches.
No explanation given for acreage reduction, no mention of personnel reduction by over 50%. The numbers in this evening’s report may not be accurate
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Situation as of 07/06/08 4:30 PM
Total Personnel: 2,811
Size: 9,924 acres
Percent Contained: 30%
Costs to Date: $7,600,000
Structures Threatened: 228 COMM , 2,811 PRIM , 200 OUTB Structures Destroyed: 4 OUTB
Active fire spread to the west and northwest, flame lengths to 40′ feet on steeper slopes with spotting to 1/4 mile.
ICP will be moving to Dos Pueblos HS over the next few days. Good progress was made today due to favorable weather conditions.
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Gap Fire map as of 07/05 —- click on map for larger image.
Situation as of 07/05/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 2,572
Size: 8,694 acres
Percent Contained: 28%
Costs to Date: $6,200,000
Structures Threatened: 228 COMM , 2,811 PRIM , 200 OUTB Structures Destroyed: 4 OUTB
Fire progression continues on the northeast and northwest perimeters. Fire picked up in the afternoon on the northeast flank and challenged Camino Cielo Road. The northeast flank moved well into Tecolote Canyon. Crews made good progress on the south flank with favorable conditions today and overnight.
Damage assessment will continue. Preparations to initiate mandatory evacuations, if needed in the Painted Cave community.
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Situation as of 07/04/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 1,046
Size: 6,661 acres
Percent Contained: 14%
Costs to Date: $2,500,000
Structures Threatened: 228 COMM , 2,811 PRIM , 200 OUTB Structures Destroyed: NONE
DC 10 completed retardant drops in Div A along the West Camino Cielo. Fire progression continues on the northeast perimeter (Div A and B) Competing wind direction making suppression difficult. Fire threatens Trout Club. The west perimeter of the fire has progressed into Tecolote Canyon.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Department poised to initiate mandatory evacuations, if needed in the Painted Cave community.
ICP has been established at Earl Warren Fairgrounds, Dos Pueblos School will remain a staging area.
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Situation as of 07/03/08 6:00 PM
Total Personnel: 753
Size: 2,400 acres
Percent Contained: 16%
Costs to Date: $1,600,000
Structures Threatened: 228 COMM , 2,647 PRIM , 200 OUTB Structures Destroyed: NONE
Mandatory evacuations are in place for areas N of Cathedral Oaks and Glenn Annie Canyon and to the W and from Fairview Road to the E, along with Winchester Canyon, and today for West Camino Cielo Area, Haney Track, Windmere Ranch, Painted Cave, and Kinivian Track. An evacuation warning has been given to San Marcos Trout Club, Hidden Vally Ranch,and Lower Fairview Road.
CIIMT Central Coast Team 7 (IC, Smith) assumed command as of 0600 on 7/3/08.
Spread was predominately to the N and E with upslope spotting up to 1/8 mile. Fire continued backing S and W throughout the day.
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Situation as of 07/03/08 8:00 AM
Total Personnel: 350
Size: 2,400 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Mandatory evacuations are in place for areas North of Cathedral Oaks and Glenn Annie Canyon and to the West and from Fairview Road to the East, along with Winchester Canyon.
Airtanker drops having problems penetrating heavy brush. Difficulty obtaining resources due to major fires on the north end of the forest. Difficulty establishing good look out points, and fatigue of personnel due to extended hours. Power outage affecting southern Santa Barbara County. Evacuations are widening.
Projected incident movement/spread 12, 24, 48, and 72 hour time frames:
12 hours: 3000 Acres
24 hours: 3600
48 hours: 4000
72 hours: 5200
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Situation as of 07/02/08 2:30 PM
Total Personnel: 350
Size: 260 acres
Percent Contained: unknown
Fuels 30-50 year old heavy chaparral fuels (15-20 feet tall), in extremely steep and rocky terrain. This afternoon the fire is making a push to the south and is exhibiting extreme fire behavior.
A MANDATORY evacuation is in place for residents in Glen Annie Canyon and La Patera Canyon (in the canyons proper).
An evacuation WARNING is in place for areas above/north of Cathedral Oaks between Glen Annie Canyon and Fairview Avenue.
An American Red Cross evacuation center has been established at San Marcos High School at 4750 Hollister Avenue, at the intersection of Turnpike Road and Hollister Avenue.
West Camino Cielo Road is closed from the intersection with Highway 154.
