John Chesnut Map; note North is rotated.
This fire is now expected to be contained by October 3, 2016. Absent any unusual events, I will only be posting John’s maps, if available, on this fire.
Loma Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated: September 29, 2016 6:30 am
Date/Time Started: September 26,2016 2:42 pm
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit
County: Santa Clara County
Location: off Loma Prieta Rd and Loma Chiquita Rd 10 miles NW of Morgan Hill
Acres Burned – Containment: 3,849 acres – 22% contained
Structures Threatened: 325
Structures Destroyed: 1 single residence and 6 outbuildings destroyed, 1 single residence damaged
Evacuations: Santa Clara County: Mandatory evacuation orders for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, and Loma Prieta Way. Portions of Croy Road are under an evacuation warning.
Santa Cruz County: All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. Evacuation alerts in Santa Clara County can be received by signing up for AlertSCC, visit: http://www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc/Pages/home.aspx.
Evacuation Centers: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville (large animals welcome)
Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 De Witt Avenue, Morgan Hill
Road Closures: Loma Chiquita Road, Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Pole Line Road, Mount Bache Road at Highland Road, Casa Loma Road at McKean/Uvas, Mount Madonna at Ormsby Road Mount Madonna Road at Pole Line Road, Croy Road at Uvas Road is open to residents only
Cause: Under investigation
Thank you Kate, and this community for providing daily, and consistently accurate information. I started following Sobranes on day one, to better understand fire, firefighting and the human behavior of those impacted. I moved to the Santa Cruz mountains a couple of years ago, after many years at sea level. I knew I needed a short course in wildfires living in the mountains. After following this blog for 70 days, I know I will be a lifelong student of ever changing wildfires. I did not panic when I saw the Loma fire plume; OK, I panicked a little…I then called upon what I learned here and activated my informed plan, and I knew my plans could change with the fire direction. Thanks to all who contributed, especially Kate.
You are welcome, Jill. If you want to really be informed, read anything by John N. MacLean or Stephen Pyre (?). You will start to get a real understanding of wildland fire, it’s behavior, and Wildland firefighting.
Thank you Kate. So distressing to see on the blogs in Santa Cruz how many dogs (and presumably also other animals) are lost or have perished in this fire.I also saw video footage of fire roaring next to a house while horses spun around in the corral. Text was only about the fire. No mention of the terrified horses.There were fire fighters there but no one with the horses. Everyone should be aware that you can call 911 to ask for horse evacuation. Even if you’ve had to leave, they will rescue your horse.The equine evacuation group in Santa Cruz County is incredibly well organized and trained. They evacuated my panicked horse from two wildfires in the past. I’ll be eternally thankful.
17:30: 4150 acres burned, 34% contained.