Zaca Fire 85,000 Acres & GROWING!

Seasons in Southern California are somewhat different from much of the USofA.

• Mudslide Season - happens in normal winter time, and would be called 'Rainy Season' by some. However, only 15" of rain would fall in a normal year. Growing up in St. Pete, FL, we've had that much in a week!
  


• There is also Fire Season that happens mostly in a normal summer time, and would be called 'Dry Season' by others. And it is VERY dry. NO rain this year since mid-March, and we can't truly begin to expect our next rain until October. It is still amazing to me to live in a climate where it is normal not to have a drop of rain for seven months. But as Mrs. Sawyers in 7th Grade Geography would explain, "It takes cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers to make a Mediterranean Climate."
  

On the 4th of July a repair was being made to a water pipe on a remote residence in the backcountry of Santa Barbara County near Zaca Lake. As you might imagine, these guys were working on a major U.S. holiday, trying to get much-needed water to a family. Sparks from their grinder set off a small fire that quickly grew, and as of five weeks later 'The Zaca Fire' has burned 85,000 acres. I suppose the lesson learned might be to be sure to celebrate holidays - yet the larger lesson here is CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER! If you don't have one in your vehicle - go buy one. Now. Whatever it costs. This scary fire has now cost $65,000,000. Your new fire extinguisher is a great investment at $25.

While major population areas have not been affected (yet!) the effects of the fire can be seen and felt nearly every day. While the fire is across the mountains from the coastal cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria, smoke can be seen billowing thousands of feet in the air. This photo shows smoke from downtown Carpinteria, about twenty miles away.

Ash has also fallen quite frequently, depending on winds, of course. While mostly a nuisance for most, it can be a health hazard for the very young, infirm and with breathing problems.

Beyond the horrible aspects of the Zaca Fire, it is hard to overlook the sunsets - smoke and ash have created some very colorful work.

People here understandably take Fire Season very seriously. Fire Stations all have 'fire alert status' signs and the local media are quick to remind during particularly likely periods. Right now, at 85,000 acres, it is huge. This is equal to 130 sq miles - the size of the entire City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia, PA.

• How can I properly identify just how large 85,000 acres actually covers? I don't have a ranch with acreage in the tens of thousands... nor do any of my friends. The above analogy for Philadelphia likely works for only a few. However, if this fire were a more regular size, say 10 miles by 13 miles, it would form a rectangle with a perimeter 46 miles long. In normal city-traffic of mixed 30mph and 45mph, stops, etc, I feel that would take nearly TWO HOURS to drive! THAT'S how big this fire is, you couldn't drive around it in two hours.

The new prediction for 'containment' for the Zaca Fire is 7Sept - nearly nine weeks after it started. Who knows how many acres it may cover at that time. However, 'containment' is different from 'out'. The Zaca Fire will burn until the rains return - hopefully as soon as sometime in October.