Firefighters are expecting today to contain the southern flanks of the Zaca Fire, which continues to burn in difficult terrain in the Agua Caliente Canyon — possibly the fire’s final threat to the South Coast mountain communities.

The fire grew 5,138 acres overnight, adding to its 220,863-acre burn record and becoming California's second-largest wildfire.

In 49 days, the Zaca Fire had not burned any homes or claimed any lives. Firefighters have it 77 percent contained and are still estimating full containment by at least Sept. 7.

Suppression costs have soared to $87.5 million and 3,144 firefighters continue to battle the blaze.

Much like its stubborn presence at Little Pine Mountain, just north of the Upper Oso Campground, the southern flank continues to burn in difficult terrain in the Agua Caliente Canyon. For now, hand crews will work on the ground to put out the flames but bulldozer lines are in place ahead in case the fire slips farther south.

More backfires and burnouts are expected to continue, mostly in the northeast flanks along the Cuyama River drainage from Ozena to Brubaker Road.

Planned backfires along the Sierra Madre Ridge are expected to stop the fire in the northern flanks, which is currently burning in the Foresters Leap Canyon, along the northern rim of the Sisquoc River.

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