Eleven aircraft and more than 500 firefighters were battling Sunday to quell several lightning-caused fires still burning in remote areas of Los Padres National Forest.

Dubbed the Santa Lucia Lightning Complex - the blazes had charred a total of 256 acres approximately 20 miles east of Santa Maria, according to Jennifer Gray of the U.S. Forest Service.

The fires were about 40 percent contained Sunday night.

The blazes were burning in heavy chaparral and rugged terrain, and thus far have not threatened any structures, she said.

Because of the remote nature of the fires, aircraft were playing a key role in the firefight, with

11 helicopters assigned to the

effort.

Advertisement

The Santa Lucia Lightning Complex consists of the Buckhorn Complex, which includes three lightning-sparked fires that have burned roughly 185 acres about 3 miles east of Tepusquet Road; the Owl Fire, an

18-acre burn in the Salsipuedes Canyon area; and the Manzanita Fire, which has charred 53 acres a mile east of Manzanita Mountain.

Full containment was expected today in the Buckhorn Complex fires, and the remainder were expected to be contained by Thursday.

Lack of access is a common factor among the blazes, Kathy Good of the U.S. Forest Service said Sunday. Forest Service officials said that due to the remote locations, all fire crews must be flown into the sites.

Officials reported little fire activity on the Buckhorn Complex overnight Saturday, and hand crews spent Sunday building direct fire lines.

The Buckhorn Complex was about 4 miles away from the nearest structures along Tepusquet Road.

The Owl Fire was reported to be in “patrol status” Sunday night, with a hand line completed around its perimeter, Gray said.

Little active burning was observed Sunday on the Manzanita Fire, and crews complete building hand lines during the afternoon, Good said.

Firefighting efforts have cost $750,000 as of Sunday, according to Gray, with 541 fire crew members being utilized.

The fires resulted from a band of thunderstorms that moved through the area Thursday night and Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The Forest Service has closed national forest lands, including trails and campgrounds in the general vicinity of the Santa Lucia Lightning Complex Fires, including La Brea, Tepusquet, Colson and Rattlesnake canyons and Buckhorn Ridge areas.

An incident command post and fire camp for the blazes has been established at Preisker Park in Santa Maria.

August 18, 2008