Incident Update Apache Fire

Situation Summary

(July 30th Update) Crews on the Apache fire are continuing their work to complete the containment lines today. Hoselines, pumps and other equipment used in the suppression effort are being removed and rehabilitated for the next assignment. It is estimated that suppression repair work on contingency lines will be complete in 2-3 days.

California Interagency Complex Incident Management Team 2 will be transitioning command to a Los Padres National Forest type four incident management team at 6 p.m. tonight.

Forecast for Tuesday: Highs in the fire area will range from the mid 80s to low 90s. Relative humidity will remain low at 17-25%. Winds will be out of the northwest 5-10 mph and will transition to northeast in the afternoon. A light chance of precipitation may be on the horizon starting the next weekend.

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Containment of the Apache fire is increasing rapidly, and no further growth is expected. Today firefighters are continuing to seek out and extinguish hot spots that could potentially carry heat under the fireline and reignite the fire. Deep pits of smoldering vegetation and root systems, known to firefighters as ash pits can burn for three or four days before dying out. These smoldering fires can burn underground in root systems and resurface on the unburned side of the fireline. Much like quicksand, these pits are difficult to recognize on the surface and pose a serious hazard for crews working the line.

Crews have also started suppression repair on the few contingency dozer lines constructed before forward progress of the fire was stopped.

Road Closures

The fire is burning adjacent to Maricopa Highway (CA-33). The highway remains open.

Motorists are encouraged be alert for firefighters and equipment in the area. Please check Caltrans road conditions at https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ prior to driving through the area.  

Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.

Engines

10

Water Tenders

4

Helicopters

4

Hand Crews

6

Total Personnel

253