Firefighters say a blaze in the mountains west of Morgan Hill
was contained Tuesday evening. Three structures were destroyed in
the blaze and four firefighters were injured fighting the fire,
which cost $2.7 million.
Firefighters say a blaze in the mountains west of Morgan Hill was contained Tuesday evening. Three structures were destroyed in the blaze and four firefighters were injured fighting the fire, which cost $2.7 million.
The Loma fire initially estimated to have consumed 600 acres, has charred 485 acres, including a mobile home and two outbuildings on Summit Road in northern Santa Cruz County. The blaze continues to burn in the Maymens Flat Road area near Highland Road, Eureka Canyon and Ornsby Cutoff, but firefighters have it surrounded. Firefighters opened the roads to residents once again this morning after 85 homes along Ornsby Cutoff had been issued evacuation notices Sunday.
“We’re looking good right now,” said Justin Smith, a spokesman for CalFire said Tuesday afternoon.
Smith noted that containment only means that the spread of the fire has been stopped and that a fireline has been set up around the blaze. Additional mop up of the conflagration could take a week or so, and fire suppression activities may continue for another month or so.
The Loma Fire started in southern Santa Clara County about 3 a.m. Sunday and quickly moved into Santa Cruz County, where it has generally remained. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Smith said. He could not confirm other reports that CalFire had started the blaze, adding that CalFire would look into numerous possible causes.
CalFire has since called off all evacuation notices. Although some residents heeded the warnings of emergency officials, heading to hotels or to the homes of neighbors or relatives, Smith said a Red Cross evacuation center set up at Mount Madonna School near Watsonville remains unused.
Smith anticipated that roads in the area, which are now only open to residents, should be opened to the public by early Wednesday. Although winds are expected to reach 20 to 30 mph tonight with gusts between 40 to 50 mph, firefighters do not expect as much of a battle because the blaze is mostly under control, he said.
“The good news is that we’ve taken a lot of the heat out of the fire,” Smith said.
Low winds of only 6 to 10 mph worked in firefighters’ favor Monday, Smith said. By contrast, 30 mph winds Sunday caused major problems for firefighters. While CalFire depended on airtankers Sunday to help extinguish the blaze, Smith said the bulk of the fire suppression efforts are now being spent on the ground.
Suppression thus far has cost $2.7 million, including personnel and equipment costs. Four firefighters were treated and released after suffering from minor injuries. Those included a twisted ankle, a slight shoulder injury, a leg injury and a second degree burn.
About 1,200 firefighters were on hand to extinguish the fire early Tuesday afternoon, and more than 1,700 have responded at any given time since the fire started Sunday morning. However, only 400 to 500 people are ever actively fighting the fire, Smith said. Nearly 100 engines and 70 fire crews, as well as six helicopters, 21 bulldozers and 17 water tenders have participated in the efforts.
California Highway Patrol, the Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department and fire departments in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties are helping with the firefighting efforts.
