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Posted on 09/26/2016 9:00:31 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Cal Fire crews aggressively responded to a fast-moving vegetation fire burning on the Loma Prieta ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which prompted evacuations, destroyed one structure and charred at least 550 acres, with the potential to burn 1,000 acres by Monday night, fire officials said.
At least 300 structures are threatened by the fire, which is in proximity to television towers. Evacuations are in effect along Summit, Mount Madonna and Croy Ridge roads. About 300 people have evacuated the area, Cal Fire said.
Santa Clara County residents described seeing a plume of smoke resembling a volcano from their homes and backyards. Footage from the NBC Bay Area chopper, which was the first to arrive at the scene, showed fire crews and a DC-10 tanker using retardant to control the fire.
According to CalFire, 200 firefighters from multiple agencies were on scene, and the fire was 5 percent contained by late Monday night.
An evacuation center has been set up at Soquel High School, 401 Old San Jose Road in Soquel, for those who need shelter.
The blaze, which has been named the Loma Fire, is in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads, west of Morgan Hill, and is spreading at a rapid rate in the southeast direction toward open space, Cal Fire said.
The fire can also be seen from as far away as Monterey, according to residents in the area.
Ben Brown, who was tweeting photos of the fire from his living room in the north end of Scotts Valley, said he watched the fire grow really rapidly in the first half-hour. “It’s not at a threatening distance. I can only see smoke but I’m keeping a close eye on it.”
Jacquie Heffner, who lives in the San Jose foothills, said she could see a lot of smoke from Santa Teresa Boulevard and Dunn Avenue. “We’re one hill away as the crow flies. The end of my street goes into the foothills. I can smell the fire a little bit.”
Dozens of South Bay residents tweeted photos of the fire from their evening commute home. A time-lapse video of the fire showed white smoke from the fire quickly turning dark black, and then a fiery red around 5:30 p.m.
Monday, a Spare the Air day in the Bay Area, was an exceptionally hot day in the South Bay, with temperatures rising to 100 degrees in some parts.
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It looked like a volcano for the firs hour.
Looked like an atomic bomb had gone off. Quite a sight.
Out here visiting friends. Saw the first smoke. It’s hot dry and windy. Going to be a bad one
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martin! haven’t seen you posting for awhile.
(hope all is good with you.)
Loma Prieta?
The epicenter of the October 17, 1989 World Series earthquake.
My first cousins were at the stadium when that quake hit.
I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s scary looking!
The epicenter is way down closer to Aptos in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Parl. Loma Prieta is the tallest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
I am down by Bonfante, in Gilroy. Looked like it was maybe a mile or two from here.
We could see the intense flame from over 150 miles to the west on our flight returning from Hawaii, about 9pm tonight.
Closer in, it looked like at least a 3 mile long flame front, maybe more.
Built more than a few homes up there. If it goes out of control=bad news. Only folks that keep their homes will be the brilliant ones that followed the fire depts rules and then some plus have their own water. To dry and too many danged valleys. It’s as bad as Big Sur.
Just stepped outside. I can see the hue of the fire, just above the hill, across from Bonfante. Maybe it is further west around Mt. Maddona.
Interestingly, I don’t smell the smoke yet but, that should change in the morning.
I haven’t smelled any smoke.
Thanks for pinging me on this.
Just went outside and it looks like Mount Saint Helen’s erupted again.
Ash email everywhere
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