Posted on 09/04/2007 8:37:34 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
An out-of-control fire that has burned at least 5,200 acres and destroyed one building near Henry Coe State Park east of Morgan Hill continues to threaten about 50 private cabins in the area.
The rapidly spreading blaze, called the Lick Fire, began Monday at 1:46 p.m. and was fanned by gusty winds. It is about 10 miles from the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, according to a fire spokesman. The observatory is not endangered, but campers were evacuated from the state park Monday.
"It is serious," said San Mateo County Battalion Chief Scott Jalbert, who assisted Cal Fire in tackling the flames. "This has the potential of being a major fire."
Overnight, one structure described as an "out building" was destroyed, according to a Cal-Fire dispatcher, who could not provide more details.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Crews are using more than 30 engines from Cal Fire, formerly the California Department of Forestry and and Fire Protection, four helicopters, eight bulldozers, two water tenders and a DC-10 air tanker to battle the remote fire. Overnight, there were about 730 personnel on scene, with more expected this morning, according to the CDF dispatcher.
Monday night, the fire was zero percent contained and was still spreading quickly on both public and private land, just north of Mt. Sizer.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
CA: Fire burns in Henry Coe State Park
Mercury News ^ | 9/3/07 | Joshua Molina
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890686/posts
Hey Norm!
Howdy! Nice and cool here right now.
At least you have a road or two to take, fingers crossed.
Henry Coe has limited to no allow crews to go in and fight this fire, lots of rough terrain.. and fuel. There are lots of air tankers and choppers plus the Big Boy ‘DC10’ is back in town too to try and knock this thing down a bit..
This past weekend I saw something I’ve never seen before. They had one lane of “the fish-hook” blocked off “for fire vehicles only.” Interesting. And there were fire trucks all over the county.
We’re a little over-due for a fire over here. I’m just glad I’ve got an extensive landscape around my house. It makes a big difference.
bookmark local fire
This is peak season for fires, the fire folks are probably being staged about now,,
the more clear space, the better, you can still have vegetation, plants and shrubs as long as they are tended to and you have a good source of water..
Our water is somewhat limited....a 25K tank and a 12K tank. Plus a few other tanks in the forest.
We are being very very careful. For once, I’ll be happy to see some rain.
Saw it from the plane this morning - looks like it’s growing fast.
Officials: Fire near Henry Coe park could devour 10,000 acres today
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE NO ESTIMATE WHEN INFERNO WILL BE CONTAINED
Leslie Griffy and Mark Gomez
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6797222
The blaze raging in a remote area east of Morgan Hill could double in size today and devour 30,000 acres before it’s squelched, officials said.
If the blaze sparked Monday in Henry Coe State Park grows as Cal Fire spokesman Frank Kemper predicted, it could today consume at least 10,000 acres of rugged, forested terrain. By 2 p.m., the blaze had churned through 7,000 acres.
If the fire does grow to 30,000 acres, about the size of San Francisco, it would be one of the largest fires in Santa Clara County history. But it likely won’t destroy any homes, Kemper said, because the wind is fanning it the southeast. To the north, homes abut the park’s entrance. One structure, described as an outbuilding, has been destroyed so far.
Officials have no estimate for when they’ll have the blaze contained.
Dry vegetation at the park and winds make for a quickly spreading fire, Kemper said.
Do you have an update on the fire?
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