Zaca Fire Documentary (New Version)

These photographic stills show a timeline of the 2 months that the Zaca Fire burned in the Los Padres National Forest in California. The fire started on July 4, 2007, contained on September 2, 2007 and officially out on October 29, 2007. Almost 4 months later! There were no persons or homes lost so I feel that we are very lucky. I am not a photojournalist but hope to be one day, so I can get my Press Pass and get closer to the fire lines. All photographs © Cathy L. Gregg

The Air Attack base had just been moved to the Santa Maria Airport and this was their first major fire. I heard these planes everyday for two months and it was quite strange when the sounds of the props stopped. But...I knew that was good news. Hearing the chatter amongst the Air Attack pilots was quite enjoyable. They take their job very seriously but have time for some humor too. Job well done! I photographed 12 different fixed wing air tankers that were on that fire. I just wish I had seen the DC-10...on a side note the oldest plane flying was Tanker #07 a P2V-5 Neptune built in 1954. There was one other Neptune from 1955 (Tanker #55). The newest was the AT-802A Air Tractor (Tanker #498) built in 2007. There are a few helicopters in here but that was only a fraction. Their base was at the Santa Ynez Airport which I did not have time to go to. I think at one point there were over 20 helicopters helping out.

This fire became so large they actually had to split it into two staging areas. One in Live Oak, near Paradise Valley, CA and one in New Cuyama, CA. The section in New Cuyama became the Zaca II incident.

Thank you to all of those who put themselves on the fire line to save our lives and property. This fire could have been a catastrophe but all entities fought it valiantly. THANK YOU!!

**UPDATE** Sadly on September 1, 2008 Tanker #09 crashed at the Reno, Nevada Airport killing all 3 on board. This Lockheed SP-2H Neptune flew many missions over the Zaca Fire. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims of this terrible crash.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• zaca
• fire
• los
• padres
• national
• forest
• california
• history
• air
• attack
• cathy
• gregg
• wildland
• firefighting
• largest
• santa
• maria

[bigboys1199]

you pick amazing music

[Schmangy]

Thank you very much bigboys1199!

[CaStormChaser]

Stunning photographs and great video!! Love the photo at 1:27!

5 Stars and an add to my fav's!

[Schmangy]

@CaStormChaser Thank you very much! You do incredible videos yourself!!! You have the passion and patience.

[Flyboy207]

The fighters and flyers who do this are amazing. It's plain to see they REALLY work their rears off. Thank you to all the perservering firefighters and aircrew, and to Shmangy for this video. Great job.

[Schmangy]

Thank you Flyboy207. Yes, they all do a great job. This year once again put them to the test here in California. They all fought valiantly to save lives and homes.

[Trev1234or]

i remember this fire it was practically in my backyard. every firefighter or once was a firefighter thank you so much u guys are the best of the best!!!

[AnitaDonohoe]

Thank you for doing this. I am seeing it now for the first time, and this fire season follows a very wet winter and an abundance of grass. I watch the skies when I hear a small plane or helicopter overhead; I always look for orange. When there is none, I know it does not signal a fire.

I think CA has the very best and bravest of Firefighters, and this was a beautiful tribute.

[ghostninjazx6r]

hey dude i was looking at this vid. and suddenly i start to imaging mel gibson with long hair and ridding a horse so i asked myself am i gay or what? then i realized that maybe was the music.

is this the score from breave heart? cuase if not maybe i am gay and that'll be fucked up.

by the way i hope you post more vids i really love them specially the one that have award winning pics and all your photos are amazing dude, keep it up and thanks for this gifts to our eyes.

[Schmangy]

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the 3 people of Tanker #09 which crashed on September 1, 2008 in Reno, Nevada. I photographed this plane many times during the Zaca Fire.