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Day Fire Update
Los Padres and Angeles National Forests
September 23, 2006 – 9:45 p.m.

The hard work of firefighters over the past several days in anticipation of Santa Ana winds was well-tested today. Strong winds out of the northeast developed mid-morning and continued throughout the day.

The fire made two significant runs during the afternoon. On the northwestern perimeter, the fire crossed Piru Creek near its confluence with Alamo Creek and advanced approximately 3.5 miles to the west reaching Grade Valley Road south of Guillermo Creek, spotting across the road. Bulldozers are widening Grade Valley Road and putting in a containment line between the road and Lockwood Peak in an attempt to box the fire in and prevent further spread to the north. Helicopters hit the fire hard with water drops until dark; crews will continue to work the area through the night. The rest of the northern perimeter held well today.

On the southwest side of the fire, several spot fires developed along the fire’s perimeter and then combined into a 5,000-acre “slopover” west of Bear Heaven in the uppermost reaches of Santa Paula Canyon. The fire advanced to the west in the direction of Topatopa Bluffs, but its spread was checked by repeated retardant drops made by several airtankers. The northeast winds in this area were counteracted by an opposite on-shore wind that also helped to stop the fire’s advance. Mid-evening the fire moved west over Topatopa Bluffs into the upper reaches of Sisar Creek. At approximately 9:30 p.m., the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department issued a “recommended evacuation” of the Highway 150 area between Steckel Park and Sulphur Mountain Road.

Elsewhere on the fire, hand crews and dozers continued constructing and improving containment lines and mopping up. Fire engines and crews were in place for structure protection.

Precautionary evacuations were in place today for the following areas: the Highway 150 corridor between Mupu Road north of Santa Paula, and Reeves Road in the eastern Ojai Valley; the Highway 33 corridor between Rose Valley Road and Lockwood Valley Road; and Lockwood Valley.

Highway 33 remains closed between Fairview Road and Lockwood Valley Road. Lockwood Valley Road remains closed.

Northeast winds currently are expected to continue through the night until at least mid-day Sunday. The winds will probably diminish slightly during the night. Winds will become more changeable on Sunday.

The Day Fire has burned 120,816 acres and is now 40 percent contained. Approximately 59 miles of fire line remain to be built. There are 3,081 firefighters and support personnel assigned to the incident.

Emergency Fire Closure and Fire Restrictions
The Forest Service has closed a large area of Los Padres National Forest in Ventura, Kern and southern Santa Barbara counties. The closure prohibits all public entry to forest lands, trails, roads and recreation sites. A map and description of the closure is available from Forest Service offices, and on the Internet at: www.inciweb.org. Campfires and charcoal barbecue fires are now prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest except within facilities managed by concessionaires.

For More Information
For updated fire information, contact the Ventura County Fire Protection District Headquarters at 805-388-4276 or the Los Padres National Forest Fire Information Center at 805-961-5770. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is operating an evacuation information line at 805-654-3593. For information, maps and photos of the Day Fire visit www.inciweb.org.