Fighting fires

Firefighters line up for dinner at a mobile kitchen at the Live Oak fire camp after battling the Zaca fire last August.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Fire officials plot the day’s attack on the Zaca fire at an early morning conference at the Live Oak command post.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A fire official works in the Live Oak command post. Fire officials worked round-the-clock in a camp with wireless Internet access.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

LIVE OAK FIRE CAMP- August 8 2007: Sierra Hotshot crew member Chris Sizemore catches up with a phone call home after a day out on the Zaca Fire. In the 1960s there were no tents as firefighters slept on the ground. On the Zaca, there were private berths in sleeping trailers supplied by Mobile Sleeper Co. of Corona for $1942.40 each day.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A massive convection column of smoke rises above Los Padres National Forest during the Zaca fire.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A Sikorsky S-61 operated by Carson Helicopters drops water on the Zaca fire.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A Blackhawk helicopter disgorges a spike camp crew returning from digging fire lines on the Zaca fire.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Firefighter Jose Vargas, 22, sharpens his hand tool before heading out to battle the Zaca fire in August. Firefighters use their time in camp to maintain their tools, eat, shower and sleep. Often there is not much time for anything else.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Val Pease folds clothes inside a mobile laundry surrounded by hundreds of laundry bags at the Live Oak camp serving Zaca firefighters.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A kitchen worker prepares food inside a For Stars Catering company trailer at the Live Oak fire camp. It served meals from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)