Ranch Fire Information Update - October 24, 2007 M
Incident: Ranch Wildland Fire
Released: 10/24/2007
Fire Name: Ranch Fire
Date and Time of Fire Start: October 20, 2007 - 9:42 p.m.
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 51,337 acres
Location: West of Castaic / North of Highway 126 / Surrounding Lake Piru
Angeles National Forest, Santa Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District
Narrative: Last night fire crews and structural protection engine crews reported that the night operations went extremely well with no suprises. In the early evening, the winds were less than previous nights and increased slightly after midnight. By 2:00 a.m., the winds over the fire calmed consdierably and in some places stopped completely. The fire did not expand significantly to the south or east. Containment lines near communities and isolated structures were working as designed and constructed. Most of the activity focused on strategically placing structural protection resources near buildings directly threatened by the fire. Crews continued to mop-up, or extinguish all burning material near fire containment lines to further secure and prevent the fire from crossing the fire line. The highest concentration of structures at risk are located in the Val Verde and Hasley Canyon areas, located at the south eastern edge of the fire perimeter. Crews were successful in protecting these areas and no structures were burned. The fire did not cross highway 126 or progress any closer to the communities of Piru and Fillmore. All evacuations from the Ranch Fire within the counties of Las Angles and Ventura Counties have been lifted. Residents are now allowed back into their neighborhoods but are urged to remain cautious and should keep informed about current conditions.
Containment: 45%
Vegetation: Heavy Brush and Chaparral (4-8 ft. high); grasses; oak woodland. Chaparral is approximately 40 years-old
Cause: Under Investigation
Weather Conditions: Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 4:00pm today.
Relative Humidity-18% Temp-75 degrees Wind Speed-10 m.p.h with gusts to 20
Evacuations: Evacuations have been lifted in the Chiquito Canyon, Hasley Canyon, Val Verde, Hopper Canyon, and near Fillmore. Highway 126 is open.
Evacuation Centers: Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building; 511 2nd St.; Fillmore, CA
Livestock: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 866-387-8911
Small Animals: Camarillo Animal Shelter 805-388-4343 ext. 9
Fire Behavior: A small flare-up occurred on the northeast perimeter overnight, but no significant fire spread was observed. Crews continue mop-up and patrol on the eastern and southern flanks. Fire is burning west into Ventura County and the Los Padres National Forest.
Agency Jurisdiction: U. S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest; Ventura County and Los Angeles County
Agencies Involved: U.S. Forest Service; Ventura County Fire Department; Ventura County Sheriff's Department; Los Angeles County Fire Dept; California Highway Patrol; Cal Fire; Los Angeles County Animal Control; Cal-Trans; Governor's Office of Emergency Services; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Red Cross
Incident Commander: Jeanne Pincha-Tulley (Incident Base at Castaic Lake Park)
Equipment and Personnel: 1264 personnel are assigned to the fire: 145 Engines; 24 hand crews; 3 Helitankers, 4 Helicopters, 12 bulldozers, 23 Water Tenders
Threats:
- Communities of Val Verde, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, Ventura, and Ojai
- California Condor Habitat; Condor Sanctuary, Sespe Wilderness
- Ventura River and Santa Clara River Watersheds
- Hopper Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, Petroleum Fields
- Fillmore Railroad, Sespe Village
- Multiple powerline, pipeline and transportation infrastructure (Interstate Hwy 5, State Hwy 126, 150, & 33.
Structures Destroyed: 3 residences, 4 outbuildings, 14 boats in a storage yard
Injuries: None
Additional Information:
- End -
