Resources Scaled Back for Apache Fire as Containment Reaches 80 Percent

Update by the edhat staff
July 30, 2024

Apache Fire Start: Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 6:31 p.m.
Cause: Under investigation
Location: Maricopa Highway and Apache Canyon Road, Cuyama Valley, Ventura County
Size at time of update: 1,538 acres
Containment: 80%
Personnel: 209
Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-apache-fire

Resources: Hand Crews: 3, Engines: 10, Water Tenders: 3, Dozers: 1

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.

The burn area is adjacent to Maricopa Highway (CA-33). The highway is open. Motorists are encouraged to be alert for firefighters and equipment in the area. Please check Caltrans road conditions prior to driving through the area.

Forest Closure: A forest closure is in effect in the Apache Fire area, Forest Order 05-07-57-24-18.. Please check Los Padres National Forest – Home (usda.gov) for additional information prior to visiting the area.

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.

Evacuation Areas: All evacuation warnings and evacuation orders have been lifted.

Update by the edhat staff
July 29, 2024

Apache Fire Start: Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 6:31 p.m.
Cause: Under investigation
Location: Maricopa Highway and Apache Canyon Road, Cuyama Valley, Ventura County
Size at time of update: 1,538 acres
Containment: 62%
Personnel: 246
Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-apache-fire
Resources: Hand Crews: 5, Engines: 8, Water Tenders: 4

Containment of the Apache fire is increasing rapidly, and no further growth is expected. Firefighters are continuing to suppress pockets of heat in and along the fireline to reduce the chance of fire spread.

Rattlesnakes are being encountered on the fireline at an increasing rate compared to past days. Firefighters walked the perimeter of the fire using GPS units and reduced the acreage based on the more accurate measurement methods.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is still inplace due to the continued use of unmanned aerial systems in monitoring the fire.

Crews are continuing to perform suppression repair work on contingency lines constructed before forward progress of the fire was stopped.

The fire is burning adjacent to Maricopa Highway (CA-33). The highway remains open. Motorists are encouraged to be alert for firefighters and equipment in the area. Please check road conditions at https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ prior to driving through the area.

Also, with the ongoing deer season, firefighters are encountering bow-hunters along the fireline and adjacent lands.

Forest Closure: A forest closure is in effect in the Apache Fire area, Forest Order 05-07-57-24-18. Please check the Los Padres National Forest page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf for additional information prior to visiting the area.

Forecast for Monday: Temperatures will be lower over the next couple days with highs in the fire area ranging from low to mid 90 degrees. Relative humidity will remain low at 17-25%. Winds will be out of the northwest 5- 10 mph with gusts of 15-18 mph. A light chance of precipitation may be on the horizon starting the next weekend.

Evacuation Areas: All evacuation warnings and evacuation orders have been lifted.

Update by the edhat staff
July 27, 2024

Apache Fire Start: Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 6:31 p.m.
Cause: Under investigation
Location: Maricopa Highway and Apache Canyon Road, Cuyama Valley, Ventura County
Size at time of update: 1,552 acres
Containment: 21%
Personnel: 212
Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-apache-fire

Resources: Hand Crews: 5 / Engines: 19 / Copters: 7 / Water Tenders: 5

Firefighters have constructed an initial line around much of the Apache Fire. Fire crews will work today to improve on the work done over that last two days by seeking out and extinguishing smoldering vegetation near the fire’s edge. The percentage of containment will increase as fire managers are confident that established lines will hold. The fire has not grown over the past 48 hours despite higher winds in the area.

Evacuation Orders and Evacuation Warnings are still in place. Firefighters will continue to improve structure protection measures as the fire lines are mopped up.

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 prior to driving through the area.

California Interagency Incident Management Team 2, a United States Forest Service incident command team has been assigned to manage the fire.

Forecast for Saturday: After one final day of hot temperatures today, a cooling trend will take place Sunday through Tuesday. High temperatures will range from the upper 80s to low 90s and afternoon humidity will be in the mid to upper teens. Winds will be out of the northwest 5-12 mph, gusting to 18-20 mph.

Evacuation Areas: Current Apache Fire evacuation information can be found at vcemergency.com.  The status of evacuations may change during the day. Ventura County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications here.

Update by the edhat staff
July 26, 2024

Apache Fire Start: Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 6:31 p.m.
Cause: Under investigation
Location: Maricopa Highway and Apache Canyon Road, Cuyama Valley, Ventura County
Size at time of update: 1,552 acres
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 214
Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-apache-fire

 The Apache Fire ignited Tuesday evening in a remote area of Ventura County in the Los Padres National Forest. The fire, burning in a two-year crop of cured annual grass, spread quickly Wednesday as winds from nearby thunderstorms impacted the area. On Thursday, despite weather conditions favorable for firegrowth, fire behavior moderated and fire crews supported by aircraft were able to regain ground lost the day before.

Today gusty winds are expected to challenge fire crews as they focus on improving on the progress made yesterday. Firefighters are working directly on the fire’s edge where possible, to hold the fire in Apache Canyon using dozers, engines, and hand crews. They are also preparing the areas around evacuated residencesto protect the homes in case the fire does continue to grow.

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 prior to driving through the area.

California Interagency Incident Management Team 2, a United States Forest Service incident command team has been assigned to manage the fire and is in unified command with the Ventura County Fire Department.

Forecast for Friday: Hot and dry weather is expected over the area today with temperatures ranging from 95-100 degrees and relative humidity in the lowteens. Afternoon wind gusts of up to 28 mph are predicted in the area and could potentially lead to further fire growth.

Evacuation Areas: Current Apache Fire evacuation information can be found at vcemergency.com. The status of evacuations may change during the day. Ventura County residents are encouraged to sign up for VCAlert emergency notifications.

Update by the edhat staff
July 25, 2024

The Apache Fire has reached 1,500 acres with 0% containment as of Thursday morning.

There are 5 residences in Apache Canyon threatened. Evacuation Orders are in place for residences along Apache Canyon Road. Evacuation Warnings are in place for residences on Burgess Canyon and Quail Springs.

California Interagency Incident Management Team 2 has been managing the Lake Fire and assumed command of the Apache Fire this morning.

Apache Fire temperatures will be 100-105 degrees with low humidity. These conditions are forecast to persist through Saturday.

Apache Fire information can be found at vcemergency.com.

Apache Fire in Cuyama Valley Grows to 800 Acres

By the edhat staff
July 24, 2024

At approximately 6:32pm Tuesday, July 23, 2024, personnel from Los Padres National Forest and Ventura County Fire responded to a fast moving brush fire at the southeast end of Cuyama Valley.

The fire was reported on the east side of Maricopa Highway (Highway 33) just north of Apache Canyon Road and approximately 30 miles northeast of Ojai.

There are 5 residences in Apache Canyon that are threatened and evacuation orders have been issued for those on Apache Canyon Road.

The Ventura County Fire Department is in unified command with the US Forest Service (USFS) and supporting the fire with approximately 50 firefighters including 5 Type-3 engines, a water tender, 1 hand crew and one Firehawk helicopter. A smoke column may be visible from locations around the county. 

As of noon Wednesday, July 24, 2024, the fire is estimated to be 800 acres with 0% containment.

EVACUATION ORDERS:

• Residences on Apache Canyon Road

For evacuation updates please visit https://www.vcemergency.com/