Lightning Starts 7 Small Blazes in Los Padres National Forest

Lightning strikes from a fast-moving thunderstorm sparked seven small fires in the Los Padres National Forest, including one blaze a dozen miles north of Santa Paula that had charred 40 acres of dense brush as of Saturday evening, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman said.

Earl Clayton said six small fires, each burning less than an acre, no longer posed any significant threat by late Saturday, and firefighters expected to have the seventh and largest blaze contained by this morning.

At the peak of their efforts late Saturday, about 70 firefighters struggled through rugged terrain and thick chaparral to fight the largest fire, which was not accessible by road. The three hand crews on the fire line were aided by three air tankers dropping fire retardant and three helicopters dumping water, Clayton said.

About half of the fire was contained by Saturday evening, and Clayton said it would be completely out by tonight, unless the area is hit by high winds.

“It’s in an area that hasn’t burned since 1917,” Clayton said. “That makes it 84 years. The potential was there for a serious problem, but the winds did not treat us badly.”

The fire was located on the western edge of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary but never threatened either the sanctuary or the California condors that were introduced to the wild last week, Clayton said. The birds are the first members of the nearly extinct species to be relocated in the wild after a captive breeding program. The condor pair’s new home is in the eastern section of the sanctuary, at least 10 miles away from the fire, Clayton said.

He said it would have taken big push of wind to move the flames over several ridges to enter the sanctuary.

Those fighting the fire came from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management offices in Bakersfield and Los Angeles. The Ventura County Fire Department also aided the effort, including the helicopter evacuation of one firefighter who suffered a twisted knee.