FIRE & ICE (CREAM) OJAI RESIDENTS, VISITORS KEEP COOL AS ZACA BLAZE ADVANCES.

Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW

Staff Writer

OJAI -- A mammoth wildfire fed by record-dry brush produced a volcano-size plume as it advanced toward artsy Ojai.

But billowing smoke did nothing Saturday to prevent residents -- and hordes of tourists -- from lollygagging through its galleries, wine shops and a concert in the park.

"We'll be fine," said Amanda Rhoades, 12, crowned this year's Little Miss Ojai, eating a frozen vanilla yogurt while watching the passers-by. "The firefighters are great.

"They'll save us."

On day 46 of the wildfire that had gobbled up 172,000 acres, the blaze known as the Zaca Fire had burned 16 miles west of Ojai.

Nearly 3,000 firefighters worked on two fronts to battle the vast conflagration that has threatened 600 homes in Santa Barbara, Kern and Ventura counties.

Despite little wind, the fire managed to march six miles toward Ojai by 8 a.m. as firefighters backburned chaparral lying in its path.

Highway 33 was closed between Ojai and Cuyama because of heavy smoke and use by firetrucks. Residents west of the highway from the county line to the Pine Mountain Summit were evacuated at 6 p.m.

The fire was expected to cross into Ventura County after burning in Santa Barbara County since July 4.

"Today, we're blessed because we don't have wind," said Capt. Bill White, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

"At this time, Ojai is not in danger, but we do want residents prepared for that possibility if the fire moves into the Ojai area."

On Saturday, the hilly fire that had inflicted 29 minor injuries to firefighters was 65 percent contained.

Smoke from the fire, consuming pines and brush not burned in more than a century, had prompted air-quality warnings or advisories as far away as the San Fernando Valley.

Firefighters have also employed a pilotless drone to view real-time videos and map the blaze. The $12 million NASA robot plane, launched last week from Edwards Air Force Base near Lancaster, was controlled by a U.S. government fire office in Boise, Idaho.

The Zaca Fire on Saturday became larger than the Day Fire that burned 163,000 in the Sespe Wilderness east of Ojai last fall.

On Saturday, locals and visitors packed this rustic retreat of 8,000 residents about 80 miles from Los Angeles.

They took to the breeze during a race of 250 bicycles.

They lined up for ice cream. Promenaded down its main street. Ogled boutiques and galleries. Filled inns to capacity. And packed a tie-dyed rock festival at the town's central park.

"This is one of the good times we're talkin' about right here, you know it," screamed the lead singer of a Led Zeppelin tribute band.

While some expressed worry about the grayish-brown plume to the west, others said, "whatever."

Ojai's newspaper did not post a fire story on its front page.

"Today, the sky is blue, no worries," said a 16-year-old resident who declined to give his name. "If they start telling people to evacuate, I'll worry then."

Local merchants, meanwhile, said business was booming along tree-lined Ojai Avenue.

"Business is hot," said Khaled Alawar, owner of Primavera Gallery. "It's been good for the past month."

Ojai Village Pharmacy, bought 10 months ago by Sara Sharam of Encino, launched a grand opening Saturday at the height of the brushland fire.

"Business has improved this week: The Oaks is booked; the Ojai Valley Inn is booked; the town is packed," she said.

Outside of town, hikers hoofed it down to Matilija Creek while rubberneckers from Los Angeles drove up to get as close as they could to a Los Padres National Forest blaze expected to burn into September.

"It's incredible," said Jim Yukl, 64, of La Crescenta, standing by a Highway 33 roadblock eight miles from Ojai. "We came a long way, 80 miles, to see smoke. It's so stupid. But it's something to do."

Some locals, however, worried about the fire that has showered their town with a gray blanket of ash.

"It bothers me, it bothers everyone who lives here," said Dan Hullum, 41, a 40-year resident selling seashore jewelry at an art fair. "If it comes over the ridge, then we have something to really worry about."

"I think it'll come over the ridge," said his twin brother Dave Hullum. "I think the people of Ojai should be afraid.

"That fire is fierce."

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

4 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) At left, Helen Seligman and Amanda Rhoades enjoy ice cream in Ojai on Saturday. The nearby Zaca Fire didn't stop them from enjoying the day while crews continued to fight the blaze.

(3) Visitors and residents stroll through downtown Ojai on Saturday. Despite the nearby fire, there were plenty of weekend activities going on in the Ventura County town.

(4) Unfazed by the Zaca Fire, people dance to the music of Led Zepland, a Led Zeppelin tribute band, during the Ojai Classic Rockfest at the Libbey Bowl in downtown Ojai on Saturday.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Map:

Zaca Fire burn area

Source: Inciweb.org; Zaca GIS Station

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